London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Chiswick 1908

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Chiswick]

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12
vomitting, shortly followed by sore throat and a
characteristic eruption which generally disappears
within a week and is followed by desquamation.
The lymphatic glands at the angle of the
jaw quickly become enlarged; the tongue presents
the strawberry appearance. There are, however, very
many anomalous cases. Sometimes the onset is not
well marked, occasionally no eruption or simply a
passing one is present, and the illness is of an exceedingly
brief duration. For these reasons attacks are
too frequently overlooked and there is occasionally
great difficulty in distinguishing Scarlet Fever from
Diphtheria or from some acute affection of the tonsils.
Cases of Scarlet Fever are by far most infectious at
the commencement of the illness.
Diphtheria.
Thirty-two cases were notified, followed by two
deaths, against 30 notifications and 3 deaths for 1907.
An outbreak of this complaint took place in a small
cottage at the East end of the district. I had to remove
four cases in one family to the Hospital where they
made a satisfactory recovery. These children had been
drinking water from an uncovered cistern which was
in a very dirty condition. I suggested that the water
should be drawn direct from the main by a draw-off
tap which was done with a satisfactory result. It is
an acknowledged fact that school life not only causes
an increase of Diphtheria, but occasions a not