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It is a remarkable fact that during the ten years, 1896-1905,
only 12 deaths have occurred from this disease in the Barking
district.
Diphtheria.
Cases kept cropping up all through the year with occasional
small epidemics. In the early part of the year, Rippleside and the
Castle School were chiefly affected and although the cases were
mostly severe, they all recovered except one child, under 12 months
old.
Taking the cases all through the year, I am bound to admit
that they have been of exceptional severity, and also that the
results from Anti-toxin injection did not give such satisfaction as
in former years. This may be due to a larger proportion than usual
of late cases or possibly the serum was less potent. Whichever factor
was the true cause, the death rate was higher than it has been
since 1896, when it stood at 12.5 per cent. The death rate per 1,000
of the population shews an increase on that of the year 1904, but
is not so high as 1903.
As I have mentioned elsewhere in the report, I have discovered
one case this year, attending school and suffering from the disease, but
nnfortunately for the theory that it is by means of these cases that
the disease is spread, no other case occurred in that particular class
or school. The whole question seems to me at the moment extremely
difficult of solution.