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condition is confirmed by the bacteriological report. During the
year 96,000 units of antitoxin were supplied free of charge for
cases of diphtheria.
The cause of the increased prevalence of scarlet fever in May
compared with the previous months could not be ascertained, the
cases being distributed more or less over the whole district. An
increase in the number of cases occurred, as is usually expected,
in the later months of the year. A definite connection, however,
was discovered among certain cases occurring in November and
December.
From the 17th November to the 11 th December 11 cases of scarlet
fever were notified among children attending Drayton Infants'
School. On enquiry it was found that they arose from a child
who was away from school on the 10th and 11th November on
account of sickness, which the mother later admitted to have been
accompanied by a rash. He attended school until the 10th December,
when he was excluded on suspicion, which was afterwards
unwillingly confirmed by the mother. After the 11th December
only one case was notified in connexion with this school. On
investigation of this case at the home it was found that a brother,
who had also attended the Drayton school, had suffered from an
attack of scarlet fever on the 6th December, although not recognised
as such by the medical attendant but fortunately had not been
allowed to go to school.
The isolation of these two unrecognised cases put a stop to
the outbreak.
Enteric (Typhoid) Fever.—Three cases of Enteric Fever,
two of paratyphoid fever "A," and four of paratyphoid fever "B,"
were notified during the year. For practical purposes all three
diseases may be taken as the same since not only the symptoms
but the modes of spread are similar. They are merely distinguished
by minute differences in the causal organisms.