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11
It will be observed that all the preventable diseases are not
included in this list, and though the Zymotic death-rate is retained
and regarded in some quarters with some degree of importance,
it forms no index of the sanitary conditions of a district. As the
incidence of each disease varies in its relative importance, most
of them will be dealt with separately.
SCARLET FEVER.
267 cases of Scarlet Fever were notified, and 6 deaths were
caused by the disease.
Although there was an increase of 97 in the number of cases
notified, there were only 6 deaths in 1907, as compared with 7 in
the previous year.
It was this mildness of the symptoms in a large number of the
cases which was one of the principal factors in the spread of the
infection, and whenever a rise in the number of notifications occurred,
a search usually resulted in the finding of a missed case.
Instances of "missed" cases have been repeatedly brought
to the notice of the Health Committee, and it is a significant fact
that whenever a missed case was found attending school, the
notification of cases from that school ceased on his exclusion. In
this connection, too much value cannot be attached to the cooperation
received from, and the great care exercised by, the
teachers; without their assistance the detection of these mild cases
would be impossible.
Most authorities are agreed that the missed case plays the most
important role in the spread of the infection. Other factors probably
enter, and on one occasion last year suspicion was attached
to the milk supply. It is only fair to add that no evidence whatever
was forthcoming by which the milk could be reasonably condemned.
The circumstances were so peculiar as to merit recital.
During the fortnight ended October 12th, 26 cases were notified.
Of these, 11 occurred in families supplied by one dairyman, and in