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year, according to our returns, we have but 18 fatal cases
reported. After making all allowances for changes in type of
this disease, and also in its fatality, there can be no doubt that
some other factor, or factors have been at work in causing this
great improvement, and the principal change in the method of
treatment, that has been coincident with the decreased
mortality, has been the general employment of anti-toxin
at a point in the disease which has gradually become earlier
and earlier in time. Added to this we have the more
systematic bacteriological examination of throats which,
although still leaving much to bo desired, is certainly more
and more carried out in the Borough. This course, by the
opportunities it gives for precautionary measures being taken
in the early stages, has formed a valuable agent in the prevention
of the disease. No schools have been closed on
account of this disease, and it is to be hoped and expected that
the more extended practice of bacteriological examination will
render such a step more and more unnecessary. The
notification of this disease numbered (inclusive of membranous
croup) 243 ; they were most numerous in the age period 5-15,
and it was in Peckham that the greater number of cases and
deaths were recorded; the mortality rate was not, however, so
high here as in some of the other districts.
Scarlet fever is represented by 1,223 notifications,
Peckham again leading the way in these and in the deaths.
The age incidence is similar to that of diphtheria, namely,
heaviest on the children between 5 to 15. This disease is one
of the few in which an increase is shown over 1904, there
being 29 deaths as compared with 16. It must be remembered
that the case mortality for some time has been greatly on the
decline, and even this year's considerable increase is far behind
the rate ruling, say, ten years ago. The deaths in Peckham
exceeded those in all the remaining districts combined. A
comparatively rare event was a fatal case in an adult of 20
years. There were 2 deaths among infants of less than one
year.
To enteric fever were credited 66 notifications, the
greater number of which were in early adult life. One
occurred in Dulwich, 7 in South Camberwell, 17 in North
Camberwell, 29 in Peckham and 12 in St. George's. Although
inquiries were made in each case there was no reason to
suspect any common cause for the attacks. There were but