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Enteric Fever.
During 1932 three cases of Enteric Fever were notified in
Battersea. Two other cases notified were subsequently cancelled,
the diagnosis not being confirmed at hospital. No death from this
disease occurred in Battersea during the year.
Enquiries were made in each of the three cases (one of which
was notified 16 days after the patient's admission to a hospital for
an internal operation) but the source of infection could not be
definitely ascertained. In one case, in which cream had been
consumed by the patient, a sample was purchased and submitted to
bacteriological examination but with negative result. In each of
the three cases the patient was stated to be suffering from "paratyphoid
B," a mild form of the typhoid group.
Cerebro-Spinal Fever.
During 1932 12 cases of Cerebro-Spinal Fever were notified
in Battersea, of which 4 were subsequently cancelled, the diagnosis
not being confirmed on removal of the patients to hospital.
Six deaths occurred from the disease, 2 being among the cases
notified, and 4 of un-notified cases in which the diagnosis was
arrived at on post-mortem examination.
Encephalitis Lethargica.
Three notifications of this disease were received during 1932,
but all were subsequently cancelled, in one case the diagnosis
not being confirmed on removal of the patient to hospital, and the
other cases not being notified in the acute stage. One death from
this disease was registered during the year, the patient, who had
been notified in 1925, dying in a mental hospital.
In London the number of cases notified during the year was
52, and in England and Wales 560.
Ophthalmia Neonatorum.
There were 30 cases of Ophthalmia Neonatorum notified in
Battersea during 1932, as compared with 37 in 1931, 34 in 1930,
43 in 1929, and 39 in 1928. The rate per 1,000 births was 12.9.
There were 5 severe cases amongst the 30 notified, 4 of which
were removed to St. Margaret's (L.C.C.) Hospital for treatment
and one received in-patient treatment at another hospital.
A few cases were still under treatment at the end of the year,
but no case of permanent injury to the eyes resulted.
During 1932 the number of visits paid by nurses, under arrangements
made by the Council, to cases of Ophthalmia Neonatorum
or other inflammatory condition of the eyes of the newly-born
was 2,351. All cases were kept under systematic supervision by
the Health Visiting Staff, by whom 133 visits were made.