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38
In 1904, out of 224 cases notified, 5 died, giving a
death-rate of .09
In 1903, out of 181 cases notified, 2 died, giving a
death-rate of .04
In 1902, out of 264 cases notified, 2 died, giving a
death-rate of .04
Considering that Scarlet Fever has been ripe in the
metropolis and in the neighbouring Borough of East Ham, it
is surprising that this district has managed to escape so well.
Of the 86 households where the patient was nursed at
home, a spread of the disease to other members of the family
occurred in 11 instances.
The infection of Scarlet Fever is a very difficult matter
to deal with as there are so many mild cases where it is most
difficult to say whether it is really Scarlet Fever or not. In
3 separate instances during the year I have known of children
attending school in the peeling stage with their hands shedding
skins in the class rooms, and yet no second case has occured
in those class rooms. Of course, the children were excluded
as soon as discovered.
But there were cases where one would expect to find the
disease spreading and yet there was nothing developed. All
the children were away from school for some days each, while
the acute stage lasted, and possible this may have had something
to do with the immunity of the others.
With regard to the outbreak in the Village homes, it is
very difficult to account for this, as the cases did not
occur in any one cottage, but were distributed about—one
case in this cottage, and another in that, iu the most irregular