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13
Medical Officer's Report.
The bacteriological examination of material from doubtful cases of
diphtheria has been continued by the Jenner (late British) Institute of
Preventive Medicine. Of 104 such cases the diphtheria bacillus was isolated
in 49, and the pseudo-diphtheria bacillus, which is non-virulent to animals,
was isolated in 3 cases. In the remaining 52 cases it was not isolated. Most
of the material was sent by the London Homoeopathic Hospital. At the
Hospital for Sick Children, where many cases of diphtheria are treated, the
bacteriological examination is carried out by their own staff.
TYPHOID FEVER.
During the year the number of cases notified was only 9, in comparison
with 20 in 1895, 29 1896, and 25 in 1897. One case was contracted
while the patient was out of town for a holiday. In another case the cause
may have been the consumption of infected oysters. Of the 9 cases 2 died.
In London there were 3032 cases notified and 585 deaths.
MEASLES.
The epidemic which began the last quarter of 1897 was continued in
this District and London generally during the first two quarters of the year.
The number of deaths in this District during the year was 36, but all but one
occurred in the first half of the year, and all but one were children
under five years of age. The death-rate in Holborn from measles was
nearly double the London rate. In London the number of deaths was
3075.
Disinfection is carried out when possible in those cases that come to
my knowledge, by obtaining the addresses of patients attended by the
District Medical Officers; also in the cases where death has occurred, as
returned by the Registrar, and in the very few cases reported by the teachers
of schools. All absences from schools on account of illness ought to be
reported to the Medical Officer of Health of the District, and other children
in infected houses prohibited from attending schools. As mentioned in
other reports, notification by the head of the family ought to be compulsory.
WHOOPING COUGH.
The death-rate in Holborn from whooping cough was rather less than
in London. The number of deaths in Holborn was 12, much the smallest
number of the past three years. All the deaths were of children under five
years of age. The number of deaths in London were 2160.