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32
During 1908 no marked outbreak of any infectious disease
was noted.
The total number of cases notified under the Notification Act
was only 74, and of the cases so notified about ten per cent, were
found subsequently to be suffering from non-notifiable disease.
The record for the year is therefore remarkably good, and the
table given on page 49 well shows how the occurrence rate of
notifiable disease has fallen of recent years.
The diminution is less striking in respect of diphtheria, it is
true, but of course it is well recognised that, now cases are notified,
which ten years ago would have escaped recognition as due to the
Klebs-Loffler bacillus.
One death only occurred from diphtheria during the year, and
eight from whooping cough.
Of the eight fatal cases seven were under one year of age.
No deaths occurred from scarlet fever, measles or typhoid fever.
One case of true cerebro-spinal fever occurred in a lad living in
Lifford's Place.
All the classical symptoms were present, and an independent
bacteriological .examination confirmed the diagnosis. The patient
recovered in the Isolation Hospital.
The cases of typhoid notified were, with the exception of one
which turned out to be tuberculous meningitis, very mild in
character and of doubtful origin.
Eleven fatal cases of diarrhoea occurred in children under one
year of age, and two in children between one and two years.
Most of the cases occurred in Mortlake, amongst the poorest
section of the population.