SCARLET FEVER AND THE FLEA

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 135, 3 March 1919, Page 4

SCARLET FEVER AND THE FLEA

« ELOQUENT STATISTICAL . "CURVES." During the last nine years inquirieshave been carried out in London with regard to-the relationship between tn« flea curve and the curve of scarlet fever, and Dr. Hamer in his annual report epitomises the result of his nine yearsf study in certain conclusions, the most important of which are as follow:—1. There is a very close correspondence in form between the last nine seasonal, curves of scarlet fever and of flea prevalence. 2. Both scarlet fever and flea, i prevalence stand in close relationship with cycles of dry or wet years. 3. Study of school influence in scarlet fever leads to the conviction that some factor, other than immediate or direct personaliinfec t tion from child to child, is concerned in ' maintaining the hold which the disease not infrequently obtains upon particular departments or i. In striking contrast to'dissemination of'scarlet fever in homes and in schools stands ths absence of any marked • ability to spread in hospital wards. 5. Study of return, cases shows that the influence of hespitalism has been unduly exaggerated. 6. Study of the geographical distribution of scarlet fever and of that of the human (lea reveals a general correspondence in the present-day allocation of both. 7. The distribution, in time, of the fall in mortality from scarlet fever corresponds, ns far as the facts can be ascertained, with diminution of prevalence of flea, bites in children. Dr. Hamer's interest- ' in? and instructive' contribution to this \ subject will no doubt stimulate further investigation with regard to vermin as an factor in disease, and will | bring about (says "Hospital") the wider F realisation of the fact that iinclearilinoss • and verminism'constitute domestic in- f sanitation and ?re a monace to publio ; health. It is satisfactory, therefore, to note that the condition of bodily\cloanliness of the intermediate age group of children and leavers examined since the year 1913 lias improved by 7 per cent., and that it ,now stands at over 80 per cent.