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tioners. If any case on the school return is found to be unnotified,
investigations are made in order to find out if the patient is receiving
medical attention.
The school notices also give a fairly accurate estimate of the
prevalence of non-notifiable infectious diseases, such as chicken-pox,
measles, mumps, etc. The numbers so notified are reported on
under various diseases mentioned later in this report.
Small Pox.
No case of small pox occurred in the district during the year,
and no contacts of cases were notified as residing in the Borough.
Scarlet Fever.
The number of cases notified during the year was 392, this
being 152 more than last year. Three hundred and forty-four cases
were removed to hospital. No death was registered from this
disease during the year.
The majority of the cases of scarlet fever occurred in the East
Ward. This ward not only has the largest ward population, but
also contains a younger population, and therefore a population which
is more susceptible to infectious disease. The rapid development of,
and the influx of population into this ward have been important
factors in the spread of this disease.
Diphtheria.
Eighty-three cases of diphtheria were notified during the year.
Eighty cases were removed to hospital.
Nine deaths were registered from this disease.
Arrangements have been made by the Council for the
examination, free of charge, of swabs taken from suspected cases of
diphtheria, and during the year 528 such examinations have been
made. Anti-toxin is also issued free of charge to practitioners who
may require it.
The number of cases of diphtheria notified during the year is
double the number notified in 1933. This is partly accounted for
by the very distressing fact that in several instances medical aid
was not called in until the patient was very ill and had infected
several members of the household. On inquiries being made into
this matter, it was found that in the majority of cases the parents)