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34
former higher birth-rate and the present lower infantile
death-rate of Woolwich, there is in this Borough a larger
proportion of children of school age. It will be found
that Boroughs with a similar population to that of
Woolwich, such as East Ham, Tottenham, Leyton, and
Walthamstow, also have a large porportion of notifications.
I have no doubt that the former is the chief
reason why the number of notified cases is larger and
the number of deaths smaller in Plumstead than in
Woolwich, though the second reason applies here also
to a considerable extent. Although the notification of
slight forms of disease causes much inconvenience, it
must be regarded as preventing a worse evil, viz.,
serious disease and death. Infectious disease now
spreads chiefly by mild undected cases which have not
been seen by a doctor. The most effectual means to
deal with these is to put prompt medical attendance
within the easy reach of all, and prevent sick children
from being driven to school (unknowingly) by the
Attendance Officer.
diphtheria.
48. 362 cases of diphtheria were notified, compared with
273, 387 and 275, in the three preceding years. The case-rate
(number of cases per thousand population) corrected for cases
of mistaken diagnosis (of which 29 were noted) was 2.61. This
is the highest rate since 1900, with one exception. 13 of the
notified cases were bacteriological, i.e. had no symptoms.
49. There were 20 deaths, compared with 18, 23, and 15,
in the three preceding years. The death-rate was 0.16; the
rate has only been lower in three years since 1891 (see Table
V). The London death-rate was 0.15.