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XIV.—RAG FLOCK ACTS, 1911-1928.
Two samples of rag flock were submitted for examination
and both samples complied with the standard in
accordance with the Rag Flock Acts, 1911-1928.
Rag flock is not used to any great extent by the few
upholsterers in this district.
XV.—INFECTIOUS DISEASES CONTROL.
Except for a continuance of the 1930 scarlet fever
epidemic into 1931, Bromley was comparatively free of
infectious diseases. Appendix IX. gives a summarised
return of notifiable diseases during the year, the incidence
rate, mortality rate and the number of cases
admitted to hospitals.
Scarlet Fever.
The incidence rate of 4.3 per 1,000 of population
shows an increase over 1930. This rate since 1895 shows
a definite downward tendency.
This infection was mild in type, but curiously
enough appeared to be grossly infectious. The percentage
of minor complications, such as otorrhcea, rhinorrhœa,
being much greater than usual. This resulted in return
cases after the discharge from hospital, in spite of the
careful medical supervision exercised over these cases
before and after discharge. Not infrequently was it
found that infection of scarlet fever recurred in the home
of the patient sometimes weeks after the discharge ot
the patient from hospital, and appeared to be due to
the lighting up of a sinus infection by a catarrhal cold.
Again, did I experience the mild case untreated
and unrecognised by the parent; that these cases are a
source of infection is undoubted, but the difficulty 13
added to when acute scarlet fever throats, without the
clinical symptoms of rash, occur. In this respect a
scarlet fever infection in a family is worth recording.
The mother contracted typical scarlet fever, at the same
time the father developed a true quinsy without rash
but showed hsemolytic streptococcus in the throat swab.