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Cases of sickness extracted from the Superintendent of
Visitors' School Attendance Returns.
Measles (including German Measles) 2403
Chicken Pox 1593
Tonsillitis 291
Whooping Cough 679
Mumps 709
Other Diseases 482
A comparison of the above figures with those for the year
1935 reveals the fact of a large increase in the number of cases
of measles, most of which occurred in the early part of the year.
With regard to the other diseases, chicken pox shewed a substantial
increase, whilst tonsillitis, whooping cough, and mumps
were slightly lower than in 1935, other diseases remaining about
the same.
PLAISTOW HOSPITAL.
Dr. D. Maclntyre, Medical Superintendent, reports as
follows:—
The number of patients under treatment during 1936 was
1,687. This is 259 less than the figure for the previous year. The
fall in numbers was due to a marked decline in the prevalence of
both scarlet fever and diphtheria; the admissions from these two
diseases remained low throughout the year. The total deaths
numbered 54 as compared with 56 in the previous year, and 15
in 1934.
The scarlet fever admissions were 522 as compared with 702
in the previous year. The tvpe of disease was generally mild,
and the fatality rate was low, but the number of minor septic
complications resulting from the infection remained fairly high.
The number of diphtheria cases admitted dropped to 469 from
722 in 1935 and 777 in 1934. The proportion of virulent cases
was also less and the number of deaths fell to 14 from 35 in the
previous year and 37 in 1934. As was reported last year, an
increase was again noted in the number of streptococcal throats
admitted as diphtheria, and also in cases with mixed infection.
These were responsible for cases of secondary tonsillitis and of
scarlet fever cropping up in the diphtheria wards. During the
year 23 diphtheria patients contracted scarlet fever and 33 others
developed secondary tonsillitis during convalescence. Among
these, 7 developed otorrhoea.
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