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many instances until a fortnight had elapsed. We were considerably
helped by a gift of twenty guineas which was placed at
the disposal of the Health Visitors by Sir Sydney and Lady
Skinner. Without waiting for any special enquiries to be made
and forms to be filled in the Health Visitors were enabled to
relieve any necessitious cases, and tide over the difficult period
at the commencement of the Strike.
Day Nursery.
The total number of whole day attendances made at the
Day Nursery by children were 3814. In addition there were 242
half-day attendances.
INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
Measles.
In the autumn of 1925, an extensive epidemic of Measles
commenced in the district. There were no deaths from the
disease in 1925, but the epidemic continued into 1926, and 12
deaths occurred during the year.
Scarlet Fever.
103 cases of Scarlet Fever were notified, and there was
no death from the disease.
The age-incidence and the ward-distribution of the disease
are given on Table 5.
In the majority of cases the disease was of a mild type,
but during the year, some cases occurred which illustrated
unusual features in the disease.
One case occurred in which the disease was in all
Probability spread through infected linen. It is now usually
recognised that Scarlet Fever is spread by infected persons and
not through inrected things, and some people are even sceptical
of the importance of the latter in the spread of infection. It is
Probably true that in the vast majority of instances, infection
does arise from persons actually suffering from the disease, or
from a convalescent patient who may remain intermittently infectious
for a prolonged period. Where the evidence points to
infected articles of clothing, toys, books, etc., it is usual to subject
such evidence to very strict examination.