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The average number of cases for the last five years has been less than half what it was
for the first five years in the above table.
The deaths during the year numbered 13, and the death-rate was 0.11 per 1,000 as
compared with 0.05 in 1903, 0.06 in 1992 and 0.17 in 1901. The cases certified were at
the rate of 2.9 per 1,000 population as compared with 2.1 in 1903, 2.1 in 902, 4.7 in
1901 and 2.7 in 1900. The mortality was at the rate of 3.8 per cent. of the cases certified
as compared with 2.7 in 1903, 3.3 in 1902, 3.5 in 1901, 5.4 in 1900, 4.1 in 1899, 4.7 in
1898, 4.9 in 1897 and 5.4 in 1896. Amongst children under the age of five years there
were 115 cases certified with 9 deaths, the mortality amounting to 7.8 per cent. (or allowing
for the cases not regarded as scarlet fever at the hospitals 8.2 per cent.) as compared
with 2.7 in 1903, 5.3 in 1902, 6.8 in 1901, 12 in 1900 and 9.1 in 1899. Amongst persons
over the age of five years there were 217 cases certified with 4 deaths, the mortality
being 1.8 per cent. (2 per cent. allowing for cases not regarded as scarlet fever) as compared
with 2.7 in 1903, 2 in 1902, and 1.7 in 1901.
From these figures it will be seen that not only were the cases more numerous than
in 1903 but the mortality was also somewhat heavier.
The cases of scarlet fever certified in the Metropolis in 1904 numbered 13,435, or
about 900 more than in 1903, the attack-rate being 2.8 per 1,000 inhabitants as compared
witth 2.7 in 1903, 3.9 in 1902, 4.4 in 1901, 3.0 in 1900 and 3.9 in 1899. In respect
to the incidence of scarlet fever attacks Shoreditch does not compare unfavourably with
the Metropolis as a whole, notwithstanding the fact that it is three times as thickly populated.
The deaths from scarlet fever in London numbered 365 as compared with 361 in
1903, 560 in 1902, 584 in 1901, and 361 in 1900, the death-rate being 0.08 per 1,000 as
compared with 0.07 in 1903, 0.12 in 1902, 0.13 in 1901, and 0.08 in 1900.
DIPHTHERIA (INCLUDING MEMBRANOUS CROUP).
The cases certified numbered 183, of which 47 or 25 per cent. were not regarded
as cases of diphtheria at the Hospitals of the Metropolitan Asylums Board. Of these
*In obtaining this figure 170 cases which were directly traceable to milk infection in 1901 have
not been taken into account.