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58
immunization campaign can be said to have reached
a point not very far short of its practical possibility
and in theory should have brought the herd immunity
nearly to the point of maximum resistance. In fact,
during the past two years the toll has been 88 cases
(excluding non-residents) and 0 deaths. In these
years there were 9,989 births, so the toll of diphtheria
has apparently reached the theoretical minimum (1
notification and 0 deaths)—per 100 births—
obtainable by immunization."
For comparison, a certain city in this country,
having a population of almost the same as that of
Providence, gave an incidence of Diphtheria of 845
cases, resulting from which were 206 deaths. In this
British city immunization has received little
encouragement.
Scarlet Fever.
As in Diphtheria, there has been a marked
diminution in the number of cases notified, viz., 441,
as compared with 755. Of these, 278 were admitted to
Rush Green Isolation Hospital, 39 to other Isolation
Hospitals and two to other Hospitals, and I am pleased
to be able to add that there was no mortality from this
disease in 1935.
The age incidence is somewhat similar to that shown
for Diphtheria, the difference being that the most
susceptible age appears to be somewhat higher than that
in the former disease. I would refer once more to ray
remarks made under the heading of disinfection. The
mildness of the type of the disease is also shown by the
absence of any fatal case.
No difficulty has been experienced in obtaining the
removal of cases of Scarlet Fever to hospital. There
was, however, one which proved somewhat troublesome
to the Health Department, brief notes of which are
appended:—