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14
Enteric Fever.—A serious epidemic of this disease broke out
in the month of June and lasted till the end of the year. I propose
to give the facts for the whole year first, and deal with the June
outbreak subsequently.
The total number of notifications received was 373, and the total
number of deaths 53, making an attack rate of 1.23 and a death rate
of 017 per 1,000 of population respectively, and a case mortality of
14 per cent. The average death rate for the previous ten years was
0.23 per 1,000.
215 males were attacked and 158 females. Their ages varied as
shown by the following summary:—
Under 5 years 38 cases.
Between 5 and 15 years 127 „
„ 15 „ 25 92 „
„ 25 „ 56 „ 116 „
Of the total 373 cases, 126 were admitted to the Plaistow Fever
Hospital, 50 were admitted into the Infirmary at Whipp's Cross, and
55 were removed to other hospitals in the district or in London, while
142 were treated at home.
A glance at the chart accompanying shows that the notifications of
this disease, which had been few during the first five months of the
year, suddenly in June assumed huge proportions requiring immediate
investigation to ascertain if possible the cause, and to prevent or
diminish the epidemic.
This was at once undertaken, and a preliminary report made to
the Council and to the Local Government Board. A copy of the
latter is here appended.