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intermittent. The spacing of the cases was strange, in that there
occurred groupings of two or three with roughly the same date of
onset, separated from others by intervals of more than a week—
and commonly enough those with approximately the same date of
onset were not in the same class."
Period of Residence of Patients Notified.
Of 329 patients notified as suffering from scarlet fever, 11 had
lived in the district less than one month; 13 had been here over
one but under three months, 16 over three but under six, and 39
over six but under twelve months. 37 had been here over twelve
but under eighteen months, and 13 over eighteen months but under
two years. 39 were in their third year of residence, 40 in their
fourth, 38 in their fifth, and 83 had lived here over five years.
ENTERIC FEVER.
Five cases of enteric fever were notified during the year, all
being due to the typhoid organism. All occurred either in late
August or early September, in three at least, the disease being
contracted in Bournemouth, and a fourth outside the district.
Two of the cases proved fatal.
One was treated at home, two in isolation hospitals and two
in general hospitals.
DYSENTERY.
Three cases were notified as suffering from dysentery. All three
were children who, at the time of onset, had for periods longer than
the incubation period of the illness, been in-patients at one of the
London hospitals.
ERYSIPELAS.
31 cases of erysipelas were notified during the year, 23 of these
having succumbed during the first six months. Females suffered
more than males in the proportion of two to one.
The only age group preponderately affected was 45-54. The
face was affected in two-thirds of the cases, the legs and the head
being the affected sites in most of the others.
Three cases proved fatal.
Six cases were admitted to isolation hospitals; five to general
hospitals and 21 were treated at home.
SMALLPOX.
No cases of smallpox were notified during the year, and no
vaccinations performed by the Medical Officer of Health under the
Public Health (Smallpox Prevention) Regulations, 1917.
A number of visits were paid to the homes of those, who, while
on board ships were contacts of this infection.