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63
I have thought it worth while to calculate the scarlet fever,
diphtheria and erysipelas rates respectively for each of the wards
for the last ten years. They are given in the tables, and
exhibit a curious change in the incidence of these diseases upon
the wards.
Erysipelas has declined markedly in all the wards, except
Mid and South Kilburn. This is obvious when the two quinquennial
mean rates are compared.
Diphtheria on the other hand has markedly increased in
Church End and Harlesden, while in all the other wards except
North Kilburn, which has a very low rate, it has declined. In
Mid and South Kilburn this decline is most marked.
The incidence of scarlet fever has followed the same rule.
In Church End and Harlesden there is a considerably increased
incidence in the later quinquennium. In all the other wards there
is a remarkable decline.
Nineteen deaths altogether were registered as due to diphtheria,
which gives a fatality rate of 5.4 per cent.—a rate so low as to
indicate a mild type of the disease, though doubtless this result
is contributed to by the increased use of diphtheria antitoxin.
This is the first year since they become notifiable in which
the number of cases of diphtheria has been in excess of the
number of cases of scarlet fever.