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prior to the occurrence of the recurrent case, suffered recently
from an inflamatory condition of the nose and throat. Whether
the question of the occurrence of recurrent cases after prolonged
intervals and the persistence of inflamatory conditions of the
throat and nose are coincidences, or effect and cause, will
probably remain unanswered until the specific germ of Scarlet
Fever has been found.
In 1909, three of the cases had had a previous attack of
Scarlet Fever. In one case, the interval which had elapsed
between the first and second attack was 13 months, in the
second case, the interval was 21 months, and in the third, the
interval was four years and eight months.
The ages of the patients and the ward distribution of the
disease will be found on Table 3, of the Local Government
Board Tables.
DIPHTHERIA.
One hundred and four cases of Diphtheria were notified
and 22 deaths were caused by the disease.
The cases reported as Membranous Croup are included in
the above totals.
There is an increase both in the number of notifications
and deaths.
Sixty-six cases were removed to the Hospital and ten
deaths occurred there.
Of the 44 cases not removed to the Hospital 12 resulted
fatally.
There was a large increase in the prevalence of the disease
during the last quarter of the year.
Sixty-two out of the 104 cases were amongst children
attending school, and probably the school plays the most
important part in the spread of the disease. It is noteworthy
that Diphtheria was not most prevalent in the elementary
schools situated in the poorest part of the district. This was