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12
DIPHTHERIA.
The number of cases of diphtheria from a ten years average,
which might have been expected, was 213, but only 133 were
notified. Of these 12 died, which equals a case mortality of 9
per cent. Diphtheria is always two or three times more
dangerous than scarlet fever. The curve opposite, page 20 shows
that the seasonal distribution presented nothing unusual and
that the disease was constantly below the average.
TYPHOID OR ENTERIC FEVER.
There were only 45 cases of typhoid fever, two of which
were fatal. In all these cases the cause of the malady, so far as
could be ascertained, was due to influences without the Borough.
Not a few of the cases, indeed, came into the district from elsewhere
within the incubation period.
PHTHISIS.
For the first time in the sanitary history of the Borough an
organised attempt is being made in the direction of exercising
some control over the spread of phthisis.
Early in July the Council, oil the recommendation of the
Public Health Committee, resolved to pay the usual notification
fee to medical men who voluntarily notified cases of phthisis
coming under their observation.
The result of this action has been that instead of some two
or three practitioners intermittently notifying cases of phthisis,
the majority of medical men practising within the district
regularly transmit the information. During the six months 260
cases have been notified; although the 260 represent the number
for six months actually received, it really nearly coincides with
the probable number for the year, half of the cases being the
accumulation of the previous six months.
The six months' experience shows that the cases notified
will average about 300 a year; there may be 300 other cases
that are not so notified—that is 600 in all. Even if this guess,
for it is only a guess, is correct, the case mortality is very high,
for there have been 254 deaths from various forms of tubercular
disease during the year, which 011 that assumption, would give a
case mortality of 43 per cent.
By far the majority of cases were those of adults of both
sexes, and in most the malady produced much poverty and
distress.
The St. Marylebone Health Society, which was formed
during the year, has done really good work in practical assisting
these cases, by means of its Health Visitors and its
connection with various agencies and charitable organisations.