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62
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
Scarlet Fever.
This disease was much more prevalent during the year,
compared with 1920.
In all 1,978 cases were notified, 366 in Clapham, 140 in Putney,
511 in Streatham, 341 in Tooting, and 620 in Wandsworth,
compared with 1,463 in 1920.
The rate per 1,000 of population was 6.03, 5.99 in
Clapham, 4.85 in Putney, 4.89 in Streatham, 8.79 in Tooting, and
6.63 in Wandsworth.
The disease was more prevalent in all parts of the Borough,
compared with the previous 10 years, but it was much more
prevalent in Tooting and Wandsworth.
The disease was of a very mild type, only 20 deaths having
occurred, or a "case mortality of only 1.01 per cent., which is exceptionally
low.
36 cases occurred in institutions in Tooting.
Of the total number of cases, viz.—1,978, 1,748 or 88 per
cent., were removed to hospital.
From January to August the number of cases notified was
slightly above the average, but in September the numbers increased,
and in October, November and December there was a
widespread epidemic; 792, or 40 per cent. of the total cases during
the year, having been notified in these three months.
This epidemic was general over the whole of London.
From the 25th October to the 1st December, considerable
difficulty was experienced in having cases promptly removed to
hospital. The more urgent cases were promptly removed, but
all cases had to be inquired into to ascertain the accommodation
that existed at home, and the general home conditions.
As will be seen in Table XLIII., some schools were more
affected than others. The Medical Officers of the London
County Council made inspections of 29 schools during the year,
and any suspected cases were at once excluded and the names
forwarded to me for inquiry.