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-5-
DIPHTHERIA.
As was anticipated the incidence of this disease
remained at a very low level throughout 1939, although a small
outbreak occurred at the end of the year. Only 10 cases were
notified, compared with 10, 8, 35, 52 and 24 in the preceding
5 years. Of the 10 cases one was not confirmed being found to
suffer from Scarlet Fever on admission to Hospital, two were
swab positive only, while another with laryngeal symptoms was
only a suspected case of Diphtheria.
The low incidence of Diphtheria should not be attributed
to immunisation as only a very small proportion of the population
have been so treated. The numbers treated at the local
immunisation clinics during the year were as follows:-
Number of sessions 29
Number subjected to primary Schick Test 8
Number found positive 4
Number found negative 4
Number who received or completed the full
course of treatment during 1939 35
Under 5 years 29
Over 5 years 6
Number tested in 1939 by the Schick Test after
receiving treatment 32
Number found negative 30
Number found positive 2
Number of cases treated or tested during
the year 64
TYPHOID FEVER.
Only one case of typhoid fever was notified, this being
an inmate of one of the Mental Hospitals.
PARATYPHOID FEVER.
There was only one case of paratyphoid fever notified,
the origin of which could not be traced. The patient was
treated at home and recovered.
SCARLET FEVER.
This disease continued at a low level during 1939, there
being only 65 cases compared with 71 and 62 in 1937-38, and an
average of 120 in each of the three preceding years. Four
cases were not confirmed on admission to Hospital. Fifteen
of the cases were treated at their homes. The disease remained
mild in type, no deaths having occurred locally in the last
seven years compared with five in the preceding ten years.
ERYSIPELAS.
There were 10 notifications of Erysipelas which is slightly
below the average for recent years. Four were patients in the
Mental Hospitals, the remaining 6 being unconnected cases
scattered over the District of which 2 were admitted to Hospital.
PUERPERAL PYREXIA.
Three cases of Puerperal Pyrexia were notified, one of
which was only a case of cystitis. Of the other two cases, one
followed a miscarriage. One death occurred from puerperal
Sepsis but this related to a further resident whose confinement
and death occurred in Croydon.
OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM.
No cases of ophthalmia neonatorum were notified.