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Discharge Notices.—The number of certificates received from the Metropolitan
Asylums Board regarding the return of patients sent to hospital with infectious
diseases was 315, and referred to 397 cases. Visits were paid to these cases by
the District Inspectors, and advice given as to date of the return of children to
school and the advisability of obtaining treatment for and isolation of any suffering
from any sequel of a disease.
Diphtheria and Membranous Croup.
The number of cases notified was 193, the number in 1925 being 132. Of
the cases 9 died, and the case mortality rate was 4.6 per cent.
The number of cases per thousand of the population was 1.8.
The cases were more or less evenly distributed, as usual, throughout the
borough, and only in a few instances was it possible to determine accurately the
source of infection. In 8 cases the source appeared to be a member of the family
previously infected ; in 4 cases infection was counted to have been acquired in
school, and in 7 cases in an institution.
The number of swabs from doubtful cases submitted for bacteriological
examination was 2,075. A positive result was returned in 149 instances.
Of the registration districts, that contributing the largest number of cases,
naturally, since in respect of child population it is the largest, was Christ Church,
with 98. In All Souls the number was 32, in St. Mary 43, and in St. John 20.
As usual, the age groups 1—5 and 5—15 were those most affected, 100 of the
cases falling into the former and 60 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., 29. These were all remedied after service of notices.
Scarlet Fever.
There was no epidemic prevalence of this disease during the year; the number
of cases being 121, as against 168 in 1925.
The highest number of cases reported in any one week was 7.
The total deaths from scarlet fever numbered 1, and the number of deaths
per cent, of the cases was 0.82.
The districts to suffer most from this disease were Christ Church and All
Souls. In the former there were 59 cases and in the latter 25. In St. Mary
there were 21 and in St. John 16.
As usual, the majority of patients were children of school age, the age group,
5—15, giving 58 of the total. Of the remainder 33 were aged between 1 and 5
years, and 28 over 15 years of age.
Though it seemed probable that many of the children notified acquired their
infection in school, it was only in 8 instances that a definite connection could be
made out.