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46
SCARLET FEVER
For the first time in the extant annual vital statistics of Willesden
there is 110 death from scarlet fever to record.
When it is considered that there has been experienced in the past
a rate of mortality from this cause that would on the present population
have yielded nearly 200 deaths from this disease, the modifications
in its epidemic character during 1910 will be appreciated. The
number of cases notified was 314 giving the lowest notification rate
from scarlet fever yet experienced and with the exception of the year
1894, the smallest actual number of cases notified since notification
came in force. It must not, however, be assumed that this represents
the conquest of the disease by administrative measures. It would be
gratifying to think that all the effort expended in combatting scarlet
fever had at last met its reward in so satisfying a result.
Unfortunately the spread of the disease is determined by conditions
still largely unknown and so far not subject to those preventive
measures which our present knowledge enables us to take with not
unnotable measure of success. But scarlet fever during 1910 ha* been
both less infectious and less virulent than usual.
The activity of the infection is at a low ebb and this it the
interpretation to be placed upon the figures which are the record of its
behaviour. It is claimed that they have justified the postponement of
the hospital extensions which with the prevalence experienced in recent
years and the increase of the population were in my opinion called for
The extent of hospital provision is a question of the probability of
demand based on results of wide experience. A passing and happy
failure in the insistence of these demands, should it coincide with an
economy on hospital extension, is a fortunate coincidence, which
properly viewed is ground for unqualified rejoicing.