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14
During the year just over 85 per cent. of the cases certified as scarlet fever were
removed for treatment to the infectious hospitals as compared with 88 per cent. in
1898, 75 in 1897, 70 in 1896, 60 in 1895 , 65 in 1894, and 37 per cent. in 1893*.
Cases of scarlet fever were most numerous in Shoreditch during the third quarter
of the year.
The cases of scarlet fever certified in London during 1899 numbered 18,112, the
attack rate being 3.9 as against. 3.7 per 1,000 in 1898. The deaths attributed to this
disease numbered 398 as compared with 583 in 1898, and 780 in 1897, the death-rate
being 0.09 per 1,000 inhabitants, as against 0.13 in 1898 and 0 17 in 1897.
DIPHTHERIA (INCLUDING MEMBRANOUS CROUP).
The cases of the above disease certified during the year numbered 369; of these
25 were stated subsequently not to be suffering as certified. The deaths numbered 63
The numbers of cases and deaths in previous years are as set out below:—

Of those certified as suffering from diphtheria 17 0 per cent. died as compared
with 17.3 per cent. in 1898, 22.1 in 1897, 21.0 in 1896, 24.1 in 1895, 25.0 in 1894, and
29.0 in 1893.
Of the children attacked who were under five years of age 34.2 per cent. died as
compared with 29.5 per cent. in 1898, 36.0 in 1897, 31.8 in 1896, 47.5 in 1895, 43.0 in
1894, and 61.0 in 1893.
Of the cases certified amongst persons aged five years and upwards, 5.4 per cent.
terminated fatally as compared with 6.5 per cent. in 1898, 9.9 in 1897, 12.8 in 1896,
7.0 in 1895, 11 5 in 1894, and 11.4 in 1893. With one exception the whole of the
deaths from diphtheria in Shoreditch during 1899 were of children under fifteen years
of age.
* During portions of these years owing to lack of accommodation at the fever hospitals, many
eases were treated at home which would otherwise have been removed to hospital.