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34
Small-pox..— There were three notifications of small-pox in the
Borough during 1927, and several cases of small-pox were, so to
speak, related to Hackney in that their movements in the Borough
required action by the Public Health Department. The first case notified
was a Poplar resident who visited his doctor in Hackney
and infected a Hackney resident who was removed to hospital before
further harm could be done.
Scarlet Fever or Scarlatina.— The number of cases of scarlet
fever notified during 1927 was 979. This is an increase of 221 cases
upon the number of cases notified during 1926.
The attack rate for scarlet fever was 4.36 per 1,000 persons
living, and for England and Wales 2.16. The number of cases removed
to hospital during the year was 912. This is equal to 93.0 per
cent. of the total notified.

It will be seen from the above that scarlet fever was most prevalent
in the South-west Sub-district.
The deaths from scarlet fever during 1927 numbered 4, which is
equal to a case mortality of 0.40 per cent. attacked, and a scarlet fever
death-rate of 0.01 per 1,000 inhabitants. The mortality rate for
London from scarlet fever during the same year was 0.01 per 1,000
inhabitants.
Diphtheria and Membranous Croup.— There were 644 cases of
diphtheria and membranous croup notified during the year. This is a
decrease of 11 upon the number of genuine cases notified during 1926.
The attack rate of diphtheria was 2.8 per 1,000 inhabitants, compared
with 1.33 for England and Wales.
There were 632 cases removed to hospital during the year. This
is equal to 98.1 per cent. of the cases notified.
The following table shows the distribution of diphtheria in the
respective Sub-districts of the Borough:—