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103
INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
The first half of this year was a particularly busy one, owing
to the concurrent epidemics of measles and smallpox.
The measles epidemic was heavy, but owing to the facilities for
home nursing and the arrangements made by the L.C.C. for removal
of severe cases to Hospital, the deaths were fewer than in previous
epidemics.
Other infectious and contagious diseases showed a slight tendency
to increase on the previous year. One of the most alarming features
is the considerable increase in the number of deaths from diarrhoea,
particularly those in infants under 2 years. This increase has led to
a special inquiry into home conditions and methods of feeding.
SMALLPOX.
1928 19
1929 153 Case rate England and Wales 0.05
1930 106 Cases Notified. ,, ,, Borough 0.09
1931 311
1932 161 Deaths—Nil.
Smallpox continues to be of a very mild character and of low
infectivity
Apart from the initial attack of headache and pain in the back,
the patients appear to suffer little or no inconvenience
No children who have been vaccinated have suffered from the
disease, and very few adults who have been vaccinated once in infancy
have been attacked, and then only so mildly that the disease has been
extremely hard to diagnose.
No action has been taken under Smallpox Prevention Regulations,
1917.
SCARLET FEVER.
623 cases of this disease were notified during the year.
The case rate for England and Wales was 2.12, and for the
Borough, 3.7.