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36
It will be seen from this table that scarlet fever was more
prevalent in the Central and South-East sub-districts.
Of the cases notified, 924 were removed to Hospital. This is
equal to nearly 88 per cent. of the total.
The deaths from scarlet fever numbered 22. This is equal to an
annual mortality of 22 per 1,000 attacked and .09 per 1,000 living
persons.
The mortality rate for London during the same period is .11 per
1,000 living persons.
During the year another report was presented to the Metropolitan
Asylums Board respecting return cases of scarlet fever and
diphtheria by their Medical Investigator, Dr. F. M. Turner. The
following summary gives the chief conclusions drawn by Dr. Turner
from his investigations :—
Summary on Return Cases of Scarlet Feyer and Diphtheria
Notified for the Three Years, 1902, 1903, and 1904, by
F. M. TURNER, M.D.
The chief conclusions to be drawn from this investigation are:—
1. The alleged return cases include some coincidences as well
as true cases, but the proportion of the former is small.
Among scarlet fever outbreaks, arising after the discharge
of scarlet fever cases, the proportion is probably less than
10 per cent. Among diphtheria outbreaks following
diphtheria, and in out breaks where the diseases are
different, the proportion is probably higher than in the
former group.
2. The convalescent hospitals discharge fewer scarlet fever
infecting cases in proportion than the acute hospitals.
3. Classification in scarlet fever has not yet caused any
notable reduction in the infectivity rate.