View report page

45
The total deaths from scarlet fever numbered 9, and the number of deaths per
cent, of the cases was 2.07.
The districts to suffer most from this disease were Christ Church and St. Mary.
In the former there were 188 cases and in the latter 109. In All Souls there were
86 and in St. John 52.
As usual the majority of patients were children of school age, the age group,
5-15, giving nearly two-thirds (281) of the total. Of the remainder 81 were aged
between 1 and 5 years.
The source of infection was believed to be a previous case in the same family in
49 cases. In 10 cases a patient had been previously notified to be suffering in the
same house, and in the neighbourhood, 13 cases.
Though it seemed probable .that many of the children notified acquired their
infection in school, it was only in 33 instances that a definite connection could be
made out.
One case which on investigaton was found to have acquired the infection in
Copenhagen and to have arrived by aeroplane at Croydon aerodrome a few hours
after the onset of the symptoms, suggests the possibility that with the opening up of
the air as a traffic route, there has been provided also a new way of attack by infectious
disease. The rate of travel through the air being so rapid, sources of infection
in other countries have been brought very much nearer than formerly and unless the
same or greater precautions are exercised at the air ports as at the sea ports, with a
view to preventing the importation of infection, this country may quite easily come
to share in a variety of diseases that at present are counted foreign.
The person who having acquired an infection just before leaving a foreign
country, if he travels by land or sea, has time to develop recognisable signs and
symptoms and can be dealt wi.th on his arrival. The traveller by air, however,
makes his passage in a few hours and sickens after his arrival. Until the signs
are recognised he is a source of infection and may do a considerable amount of
damage. The Air Ministry appear to have recognised this possibility and have
appointed a health officer to at least one aerodrome.
Defects in sanitation to the number of 81 were discovered in the premises visited.
All these were want of cleanliness, etc. The nuisances were remedied after the
service of notices in each case.
Enteric Fever.
The notifications received numbered 29. There were no deaths.
Of the 29 cases, 10 related to patients amongst the staff and students at the
Bedford College for Women. The outbreak of this disease occurred in February,
20 cases of the disease being notified, some in Marylebone and some in Hampstead.
The only common ground on which the staff and students of all classes met was the
dining-room at lunch time, and though for a time suspicion rested upon certain canned
meat that had been partaken of by all those attacked, eventually it was concluded
that a "carrier" in the kitchen staff was responsible. Inquiry suggested that the
cook, who gave a history of diarrhoea of a few hours' duration on the night of 31st
January—1st February, so slight that she did not have to cease work, was the
"carrier" involved and examination of her blood confirmed this view. She was
Suspended from work, and promptly resigned. No further cases occurred.
Cerebrospinal Fever.
Only 2 cases of this disease, 2 girls aged lli years and 8 months respectively,
were notified. Isolation and treatment were carried out in a hospital. Tbe patient
aged 11½ was finally diagnosed as tuberculous meningitis. The younger patient
died.