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81
The deaths from Scarlet Fever were 54 in the Borough during 1901,
as against 22 in the year 1900.
The total number of cases notified was 1,301 this year, as against 689
for last year.
The annual mortality per 1,000 living was .26.
Deaths from Scarlet Fever during the last ten years:—
1892 69
1893 111
1894 42
1895 36
1896 51
1897 54
1898 45
1899 21
1900 22
1901 54
Of the 1,301 cases notified as many as 1,188 were removed to hospital.
The deaths in the hospital were 51, a mortality of 4.3 per cent. The cases
treated at home numbered 113, of which 3 died, a mortality of 2.6 per cent.
The percentage of cases removed to hospital was 91.3.
In the year under consideration not only has there been a very large
increase in the number of cases when compared with the previous year,
but the case mortality has been also higher. On referring to Tables 15
and 17, it will be seen that for a portion of the Borough (Newington),
Scarlet Fever has been more than usually fatal.
One feels bound to mention year by year, the long period that cases
are kept in hospital. That this lengthened stay in hospital, besides being
a heavy burden upon the Borough's exchequer, is distinctly harmful to the
patient I do not think there can be much doubt.
We have been hoping for years that the vexed question of how long a
patient should be retained in hospital would be boldly considered by the
Asylums Board's Medical Officers. It is known that there is a disclination
to discharge the cases from hospital at an early date, for fear of blame
attaching. I think that this fear is groundless. If the Medical Officers
of the hospitals would only discharge all cases of Scarlet Fever after a
residence in hospital of six weeks or thereabouts, and duly advise the
Medical Officers of Health of such discharge, so that the cases can be
watched, much benefit, in my opinion, would accrue. The present way of
discharging patients to their homes without advising the Medical Officer
of Health, so that the family can be watched, is, to say the least, an
unbusinesslike method of doing things.