View report page

33
Scarlet Fever or Scarlatina.
The epidemic that commenced in June, 1904, and was
prevalent throughout the District up to the end of the year,
gradually diminished during the early months of 1905, and
only four cases were notified between the end of May and
beginning of September. From that date onwards the disease
was slightly more prevalent, but I have no reason to connect
these latter cases with the previous epidemic.
Altogether 85 cases of scarlet fever were notified during
the year, and these represented infection in 55 houses. In
most instances the illness ran a fairly mild course, and no case
ended fatally. At the same time it must be remembered that
many chronic ailments date from an attack of scarlet fever,
probably the most frequent being ear disease, though kidney
and heart complications are not rare.
For many years past the type of epidemic in Finchley
appears to have been mild, but in some localities a casemortality
of 20 or 30 per cent. has been noted, and a mortality
of 5 to 10 per cent. of those attacked is by no means uncommon
in very poor neighbourhoods.
Diphtheria.
Of the 32 cases notified, two ended fatally. The number
of different houses invaded was 29.
The cases were distributed fairly evenly throughout the
year, and the incidence did not appear to fall on any special
portion of the District.
In a few instances direct infection from an already notified
case seemed probable, but in the majority it was impossible to
ascertain any evidence as to the source. Gross sanitary defects
on the premises were seldom noted, and even when present it
was matter for conjecture whether they were more than predisposing
causes.