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17
Whooping Cough.
Whooping cough accounted for ten deaths, all of which
were under 2 years of age, and each case was attended by
complications such as broncho-pneumonia or convulsions.
Scarlet Fever.
Seventy-two cases were recorded during the year as
compared with 64 for the preceding year; of these 20 took
place in the South Ward, 12 in the East Ward, 34 in the
West Ward, and 6 in the Central Ward. I had occasion to
advise the Council to close the public elementary schools,
Archdeacon Cambridge Girls' and Infants Departments, and
Trafalgar Infants. The Council acted upon such advice and
the outbreak was limited.
During the progress of the Medical Inspection of school
children it was discovered that some children were in the
desquamating stage of the fever. It was upon this evidence
that I advised the Council to close the above schools for
14 days, which schools were subsequently thoroughly fumigated
and cleansed throughout. At the end of this period
every child was examined upon re-admission. No child was
then detected suffering from the disease, although a few other
cases were notified during the period of closure.
Diphtheria.
The number of cases notified amounted to 16 as compared
with 18 in the preceding year. One case terminated
fatally. The method of dealing with the disease was exactly
the same as in previous years, viz., the examination gratis of
swabs taken from the affected part and the free distribution
of Anti-Diphtheritic Serum. The use thereof undoubtedly
had the effect of deterring the spread of the disease and
effecting cures.
Infectious Diseases Hospital.
Sixty-nine cases of Scarlet Fever were admitted into the
temporary Hospital, the Council still continuing their tenancy