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In addition, information was received by the Public
Health Department periodically throughout the year of
persons resident in Wimbledon who had been in contact with
cases of smallpox outside the Borough. In all, one hundred
and seventy-nine contacts were notified from other Health
Departments. They were kept under observation for sixteen
days by the sanitary staff. None of these contacts developed
the disease. Two hundred and ninety visits were paid to
the houses of smallpox contacts. As in 1930, it was not
considered necessary to make chicken-pox notifiable in
Wimbledon.
Food Poisoning.—The only case of food poisoning that
occurred in the Borough during 1931. arose from a cooked
foodstuff which had been purchased in an outside district.
Two children were affected, with sickness and diarrhoea.
Bacteriological examination showed that infection was due
to an organism of the Salmonella group. Both cases
recovered.
Information was forwarded to the Medical Officer of
Health of the area in which the food was prepared.
Typhoid and Enteric Fever — Three cases were notified.
One case was notified as typhoid fever but the diagnosis
was not confirmed on further bacteriological investigation
The remaining two cases were due to a Paratyphoid B.
infection.
Two of these cases were removed to the Isolation
Hospital at Gap Road, where they recovered.
Pull investigations were instituted as to the source of
the infection. In no instance had the disease arisen through
the water or milk supply.
No death occurred during the year from the enteric
group of diseases.
Encephalitis Lethargica.— One case of encephalitis lethargica
was notified. This patient was removed to hospital
for further investigation, as the result of which the notification
was withdrawn.
Puerperal Fever and Puerperal Pyrexia.—Four cases of
puerperal faver and three cases of puerperal pyrexia were
notified during the year, in accordance with the Public
Health (Notification of Puerperal Fever and Puerperal
Pyrexia) Regulations, 1926. During 1930 there were notified
four eases of puerperal fever and nine cases of puerperal
pyrexia.
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