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151
1907
To the Chairman and Members of the Public Health Committee.
Gentlemen,
INQUIRY AS TO THE CAUSE OF SCARLET FEVER.
The following letter, on which you are requested to report to the Council, has
been received from the Borongh Council of Holborn :—
" Borough of Holborn,
Council Offices,
197, High Holborn, W.C.
11th January, 1908.
" Dear Sir,
" I am directed by the Council to inform you that they have
noticed with much satisfaction that at a recent meeting of the Managers
of the Metropolitan Asylums Board, a resolution to the following effect
was unanimously passed:—
'That in view of the continued prevalence of Scarlet Fever, not'withstanding
the extensive isolation accommodation which has been
'provided, the Local Government Board be asked to cause an inquiry
'to be instituted into the cause of this disease, and whether any, and
'if so, what further means can be adopted for its prevention.'
"The Council fully agrees with this resolution, and having regard to
the great importance of the matter, in both its preventive medicine and
financial aspects, has addressed a communication to the Local Government
Board in support of the same.
"I enclose for the information of your Council copies of Tables of
Statistics upon which the resolution was based, and I am to express the
hope that your Council will address a letter to the Local Government
Board in support of the Managers' action.
Yours truly,
(Signed) Lionel Walford.
"The Town Clerk,
Metropolitan Borough of Islington."
Before expressing an opinion as to the advisability of such an inquiry, it is
necessary to lay before you certain circumstances regarding Scarlet Fever, which
it would be well for you to know, in order that you, apart from my advice, may
form an independent judgment as to the necessity of making such an inquiry as has
been suggested.
1. Scarlet Fever is one of the most common ailments of childhood, and its
causation has received probably more attention from scientific investigators, sanitary
authorities, and their officials, than any other disease.
2. It has been found that out of 1,000 cases
67 persons are under one year.
141 ,, between 1 year and 2 years.
160 ,, ,, 2 years and 3 years.
151 „ „ 3 „ „ 4 „
119 „ „ 4 „ „ 5 „
259 „ „ 5 „ „ 10 „
58 „ „ 10 „ „ 15 „
48 „ above 15 years.