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6
for a considerable number of years. Although measures directed
against scarlet fever have effected only a very slight reduction
in incidence, a marked and progressive decline in mortality has
been going on over a considerable period. In comparing the latest
five-year period (1929-33) with that (1892-96) preceding the opening
of Leyton Isolation Hospital it is found that, whereas the reduction
in the number of cases has been only 12 per cent., the corresponding
reduction in the number of deaths has been 82 per cent.
Only 94 persons were notified to be suffering from diphtheria
during the year—the smallest number ever recorded in the history
of the area. The marked fall in incidence, however, was accompanied
by an increase in the severity of the type of infection.
Fever Hospital.
Although the number of patients admitted suffering from
diphtheria was exceptionally low, the percentage of severe cases
was greater than in any year since 1928.
During the widespread epidemic of scarlet fever of 1933 the
abnormal incidence of the disease presented a difficult problem.
However, by a merciful dispensation of providence, the incidence
of diphtheria was low at the time; and it was found possible to
put at the disposal of scarlet fever patients accommodation normally
reserved for cases of diphtheria. By increasing the number of
beds per ward beyond the standard accommodation and exercising
a judicious selection of cases for admission it was found possible
to treat in hospital some 443 of the 743 scarlet fever cases notified
during the year.
In the appropriate section of this Report will be found details
of valuable alterations in the Hospital buildings which were undertaken
during the year.
Maternity and Child Welfare.
The number of women who died during the year as the result of
childbirth reached the low figure of two, as compared with four such
deaths during the previous year. The Leyton maternal mortality
rate was therefore 1.33 per thousand births, comparing very favourably
with the rate of 4.42 for England and Wales.