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25
INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
1.—Notifiable Diseases.
Under the Compulsory Notification Clauses of the Public
Health (London) Act, 1891, and the Orders and Regulations
made thereunder, 6,548 cases of infectious diseases (excluding tuberculosis)
were reported, including cerebro-spinal fever, 31, poliomyelitis
acuta, 9, ophthalmia neonatorum, 67, whooping cough,
902 measles, 3,224, and German measles, 1,241. These 6,548 cases
occurred in 5,544 infected houses, and of the 6,548 cases 1,338, i.e.,
20-4 per cent., were removed to hospital, and 5,210, i.e., 79-6 per
cent., remained under treatment at their homes. If the included
diseases mentioned be excluded so as to make the 1917 figures
strictly comparable with those for previous years, the percentage
of cases removed to hospital during 1917 was 80.1, as compared
mith 82.8, 82.8, 67.9, 54.7 and 31.5 for the five quinquennia
1911-15, 1906-10, 1901-5, 1896-1900 and 1891-5, respectively, i.e.,
since the compulsory notification of infectious diseases camfe into
force under the Public Health (London) Act, 1891.
Full particulars of all the notifiable infectious diseases are to be
found in tabular form.
Nursing in connection with Measles, German Measles, Whooping
Cough and Ophthalmia Neonatorum cases.
The Council on April 26th, 1917, gave instructions for arrangements
to "be made with Nursing Organisations, affiliated with the
Central Council for District Nursing in London, for the nursing, free
of cost, of patients notified or otherwise known to be suffering from
Measles and German Measles, Whooping Cough and Ophthalmia
Neonatorum, if (and as) required by the Medical Officer of Health
and the necessary steps are being taken.*
At present, the routine in Lambeth Borough is for every case
of Measles and German Measles, Whooping Cough and Ophthalmia
Neonatorum, when notified, to be officially visited and such precautionary
measures taken in connection therewith as may be found
necessary, including, in the case of Measles, German Measles and
Whooping Cough, the systematic exclusion of non-protected contact
children (i.e., children who have not previously had the disease)
and all contact children under 5 years of age from schools, or, if
desirable, the closing of an individual class room or class rooms.f
There is no interference with medical treatment by the Council's
Officers, but medical attendance is advised in all cases and nursing
assistance offered in suitable cases and under certain conditions,
free of cost, for the poorer inhabitants of the Borough.
*Temporary arrangements have been made with the South London
District Nursing Association (109, North Side, Clapham Common, S.W.), and
the Ranyard Nurses (25, Russell Square, W.C.). Such arrangements to come
into operation on June 1st, 1918.
† During 1917, 78 Schools (80 class rooms) were dealt with, 875
children being excluded from the Infants' Departments in connection with
235 Measles cases reported.