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12
Scarlet Fever shows a decrease of 286 cases as compared with
1896. It was most prevalent during the first quarter of the year, when
95 of the cases were reported. It was pretty evenly distributed
throughout the District, none of the Wards being free from it, but
the cases show a decrease in the whole of the Wards, with the exception
of Muswell Hill.
Diphtheria shows a small decrease in the cases reported—87
comparing with 95 for 1896, and 89 for 1895. The disease was most
prevalent in the fourth quarter, when 36 cases were reported. As
regards its distribution in the Wards, it will be seen that four Wards
show an increased number of cases certified, namely :—Highgate an
increase of 2, North Haringey 2, South Haringey an increase of 6, and
Finsbury Park an increase of 7, whilst, on che other hand, Muswell
Hill shows a decrease of 4, Crouch End of 8, Hornsey of 1, and Stroud
Green of 12. As this disease showed a considerable increase in the
third quarter, especially in the two Haringey Wards, I reported on this
to the Public Health and Hospital Committee in the following terms:—
"Since the last meeting of the Committee I have been making
"inquiries as to the cases of diphtheria occurring in the last three
"months in the two Haringey Wards, with a view to ascertain, if pos"sible
the cause of the increased prevalence of this disease. I have
"written letters to the medical officers of the Districts bordering on
"those Wards, making enquiries as to whether there has been any
"appreciable increase in the diphtheria returns, with the result
"that Dr. Harris, of Islington, has sent me a return showing the
"number of cases of diphtheria certified in the Tufnell, Upper
Holloway and Tollington districts foijthe whole of the year 1897.
"From that I notice that the Tollington district, which abuts on
"the Stroud Green Road, and is, therefore, the nearest of these
"three to the Haringey Wards, shows a much larger percentage of
"cases, being 118 for 29,731 population, against Upper Holloway
"77 cases for 36,312, and Tufnell 71 cases for 32,230. On the
" other hand, I hear from Dr. W. Tindell Watson, of Tottenham,
" that there have been only three cases of diptheria along the
"part of their District bordering with Haringey, and there is
"nothing exceptional as regards this disease in that part of the
"District, I have had a map prepared locating the 24 cases of