London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Erith 1915

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Erith]

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24
Scarlet Fever.
There were 231 cases of Scarlet Fever notified during
1915, as compared with 307 in 1914. Of these 204
occurred in children between 5 and 15 years of age, and
0 in children between 1 and 5.
Fortunately the disease was of a mild type, as may be
judged from the low mortality.
The attack rate for the disease was G.5 per 1,000 of
the population, as compared with 10.04 per 1,000 the previous
year.
Out of the 231 cases which occurred, 198 were removed
to the Isolation Hospital for treatment.
One death occurred from the disease.
Return cases occurred in connection with several
patients discharged from the Sanatorium. As stated in
previous reports, it is impossible to eliminate these en
tirely. In an endeavour to prevent their being a source
of infection, a leaflet is given to the parents or relatives
of each case discharged from the Hospital, pointing out
that it is a potential source of infection, and advising such
precautions as may obviate trouble.
Diphtheria.
The number of cases of Diphtheria notified during
1915 was 105, as compared with 86 in 1914.
The attack rate for the disease was 2.9 per 1,000 of
the population, as compared with 2.8 the previous year.
The number of deaths was 5.
F'ifty-eight of the cases notified were removed to the
Sanatorium for treatment.
There were no return cases, a result due to the fact
that before a case which has been suffering from Diphtheria
is discharged from the Sanatorium the bacteriological
examination of swabs taken from the throat must
show a negative result on two consecutive occasions.
Enteric Fever.
Three cases of Enteric Fever were notified during
the year with 1 death, which was a case of a domestic
servant, residing at Dartford Heath.