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56
SECTION IV.
PREVALENCE AND CONTROL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE.
Table I. gives the figures for ages and Wards.
Scarlet Fever was more prevalent than in 1936; the largest
incidence has been in Whitehorse Manor, South Norwood, West
Thornton and Waddon Wards. Based on the estimated ward
populations, the case rate for these wards was respectively 561,
411, 312, and 385 per 100,000 of the population. The age group
6-15 years, as usual, suffered most; cases in this group comprising
57.3 per cent, of the total.
Diphtheria was also more prevalent than in 1936; most cases
occurred in Broad Green (78), Waddon (53), and Whitehorse
Manor (34). Once again the age group 6-15 years gives the
highest figures, constituting 58.5 per cent, of the total.
No cases of Small Pox occurred during the year.
There were 12 cases of Puerperal Fever and 67 of Puerperal
Pyrexia; 27 occurred in the age group 16-25 years and 52 in the
age group 26-45 years. A majority of the cases occurred in
women having their first confinement. Under the Public Health
Act, 1936, Puerperal Fever is no longer notifiable as a clinical
entity. All cases of rise of temperature over 100° F. occurring
during the puerperium are now notifiable under the term Puerperal
Pyrexia.
The incidence of the commoner infectious diseases in Croydon
during the past thirteen years is of interest.
Scarlet Fever has shown a succession of shallow waves of
incidence with a distinct trend towards an aggregate increase.
The periods of maximum intensity have been in 1924, June and
July; 1925, March, April and May; 1926, May, June and July;
1927, April, May and June; 1928, January and February, with
another in November and December; 1929, a gradual increase
throughout the year without any intermissions; 1930 and 1931,
the incidence was relatively constant, with a slight decline in the
number of cases in August and September. During 1932 there
was a steady increase in cases until the begininng of May, when