Incidence of rheumatic fever in Ceylon.

Conflicting views have been expressed about the incidence of rheumatic fever in the tropics. Fernando (1939) concluded that 'rheumatic infection is an important cause of heart disease among the hospital class of the population of Ceylon and accounts for from anything between one-fourth to one-fifth of the total cardiovascular diseases among them. The incidence, manifestations, virulence and progressiveness of rheumatic carditis scarcely differ in any important respects from what is seen in non-tropical countries'. While this is probably quite true of rheumatic infection in the adult, it was thought fit to investigate its incidence and manifestations in the children in this country. Incidence