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11
PREVALENCE OF AND CONTROL OVER
INFECTIOUS AND OTHER DISEASES.
SCARLET FEVER.
The incidence of scarlet fever was fairly light, fortysix
cases being notified, a rate of 1.19 per 1,000 population.
Forty-four cases were treated in hospital and two cases at
home. In addition four suspected cases were admitted
to hospital where it was later decided that the illness
was not scarlet fever. Only one instance of "return case"
infection occurred.
DIPHTHERIA.
The diphtheria incidence was 0.13 per 1,000 population,
only five cases being notified, all of which were treated
in hospital. Three of the cases occurred in one family
and two in another, and the infection was known to have
been imported from outside the district in both instances.
None of the patients had been immunised. Three further
cases were removed to hospital for observation but proved
not to be diphtheria.
The following statistics refer to immunisation carried
out during the year:—
Number of cases completing treatment
during the year (pre-school children 96,
school children 93) 189
Number of cases treated by private doctors
under the Council's scheme 21
Number of Schick tests performed 109
Total number of attendances at Clinic 513
CEREBRO SPINAL MENINGITIS.
The year was characterised by a generalised epidemic
of meningococcal meningitis, and fifteen cases in all
occurred in the district. Two of these cases were fatal.
The comparatively low mortality is probably a tribute to
the new methods of chemical therapy. There was no
definite linking up between the various cases.