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Incidence by age and! season. From Table I. it will be seen
that one-third of the cases occurred in the first half of the year,
one-third in the third quarter, and one-third in the fourth quarter.
The weekly incidence reached its maximum in the last three weeks
of the third quarter, and from then onwards there was no marked
change in the weekly incidence until the end of November. There
was no definite epidemic at any period during the year.
The largest number of cases—viz. 155—occurred in Plaistow
ward, and this ward actually had the highest incidence with
a case rate of 8.80 of the population. The wards with the next
highest incidence were Plashet Road (7.47), Canning Town and
Grange (6.40), Hudsons (5.23), Custom House and Silvertown
(4.46), and Forest Gate (4.12). The lowest incidence was in Broadway
(1.76).
From the point of view of age grouping, 30.3 per cent. of
the cases occurred in persons under the age of 5 years, 45.3 per
cent. between the ages of 5 and 10 years, and 13.6 per cent.
between the ages of 10 and 15 years.
The percentage of males attacked throughout the year was
47.3, but this percentage was by no means constant in different
age groups. At certain age periods the excess percentage of
females was considerably higher.
The statistics of scarlet fever are set out fully in Tables IV.
and V. The statistics for incidence show that there has been
considerable variation in the prevalence of this condition during
the last fifty years. The highest incidence was reached in the
period 1881-1895, and the lowest quinquennial rate was in the
period 1916-1920. Annual rates show that there has been an
increase of prevalence at intervals of about six or seven years.
The general trend of incidence is certainly downwards. Comparison
of the local rates with those for England and Wales show the
slight excess incidence associated with an urban area.
The death rate from scarlet fever has decreased enormously
in the last sixty years. From the figures given it will be seen that
the highest death rate—0.56 per 1,000 living—occurred in the
earliest period, namely 1876-1880. During the period 1886-1895
the death rate was reduced to a half of what it had been, and in
the ensuing fifteen years the death rates were again approximately
halved. Sintce 1911 there has been a further marked decrease in
the rate, so that the number of deaths which are due to this disease
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