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Of the 229 cases quite a considerable proportion were notified as having occurred
in institutions. During the year no fewer than 24 cases were notified from the Workhouse
Infirmary, the majority in the last quarter. With the object of discovering the
source of infection, which seemed to be one or more carrier or unrecognised cases, a
complete examination of all patients in certain of the Wards was made. This
resulted in the detection of a number of patients who, apparently unaffected themselves,
harboured the organism of the disease. After these persons had been isolated
and otherwise dealt with a great diminution in numbers followed. At the Royal
National Orthopaedic Hospital, where there were 23 cases during the year, the
experience was very similar.
Only in a few cases was it possible to determine accurately the source of
infection; in 32 it proved to be in the home of the patient, and in ten instances from
a previous case in his own family. Three patients were believed to have obtained
infection from a previous case in the neighbourhood.
The number of swabs from doubtful cases submitted for bacteriological
examination, including a large number from the institutions referred to above, was
743.
A positive result was returned in 93 instances.
Of the registration districts, that contributing the largest number of cases was
Christ Church, with 100. All Souls 70, St. Mary 31, and St. John 28.
As usual the age groups 1-5 and 5-15 were those most affected, 96 of the cases
falling into the former and 85 into the latter group.
One application for a free supply of antitoxin under the Diphtheria Antitoxin
(London) Order, 1910, was received.
The nuisances detected during the course of investigating the notified cases were:
Dirty Premises, etc., 38; Defective Drainage, 1. These were all remedied after
service of notices.
Scarlet Fever.
The notifications of this disease numbered 432. This is the highest figure for
any year since 1909, when 458 were notified. In 1908 the number was 409, in 1912
259, and in 1913 411.
The chart inserted at the beginning of this report shows the number of cases
reported week by week throughout the year and the relation which the figure has to
the average of the previous 10 years.
The highest number reported in any one week was 26.
The total deaths from scarlet fever numbered 9, and the number of deaths per
cent. of the cases was 2.08.
The districts to suffer most from this disease were Christ Church and All Souls.
In the former there were 181 cases and in the latter 100. In St. Mary there were
92 and in St. John 59.