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N.B.—These were not all from different cases, but in many instances,
chiefly of Diphtheria, were further specimens taken from the same cases
at intervals for re-examination to determine when the case in question
ceased to be infectious. In some cases this has to be repeated several
times before a negative result is reported.
Total.—93 bacteriological examinations, of which 39 gave positive
and 54 negative results.
Diphtheria Antitoxin.—The supply of diphtheria
antitoxin provided by the Council and kept available for use
at any time at the Council Offices has been made full use of
as occasion required, to the great advantage of those suffering
from the disease and the public in general.
Handbills concerning Infectious Diseases.—Handbills
giving instructions as to the danger of, and precautions
to be taken to avoid spreading infection in, cases of Phthisis,
Measles, and Whooping Cough—not being notifiable diseases
-are always kept in readiness, and have been left at all
houses where it came to my knowledge that these diseases
were present; and, in the case of the two latter, have also
been distributed to all other houses in the immediate neighbourhood.
The necessary knowledge as to where the two
latter diseases are present is supplied to me chiefly by the
School Attendance Officers and the School Authorities.
This system of notification of non-notifiable diseases by
the School Attendance Officers and the School Authorities,
instituted in 1898, continues to work satisfactorily.
SMALLPOX.
No cases were notified.
With regard to the provision of accommodation for the
effective isolation of cases of Smallpox reported on in my
last Report, the matter at the present time stands thus:—
This district is one of the constituent authorities, composed of
a number of the Urban and Rural Districts of Middlesex,
included in the Provisional Order for the formation of the
"Middlesex District Joint Smallpox Hospital," under Section
279 Public Health Act, 1875, for the purchase of Clare Hall
Smallpox Hospital, and it is understood that the purchase of
the Hospital by the Joint Smallpox Hospital Board is now
completed.