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31
Cerebro-spinal Meningitis.—During 1919 there were 7 cases of
this disease notified in the Borough. Of these 5 were removed
to hospital. All the cases notified were fatal.
Polio-myelitis.—There were 6 cases of this disease notified
during 1919. Of these 1 was removed to hospital. All the cases
recovered with some impairment of one or other group of muscles.
Ophthalmia Neonatorum.—There were 36 cases of this disease
notified during the year. 20 of these were removed to hospital.
All the cases recovered without any impairment of sight.
Measles and German Measles.—There were 452 cases of measles
and 103 of German measles notified during the year, of which
23 cases of measles and 1 case of German measles were removed
to hospital. Only 6 deaths were recorded from this disease. The
annual mortality is therefore .027 per 1,000 inhabitants, compared
with London .08 per 1,000 inhabitants. In addition, information
of 141 cases of measles and of 22 German measles was received
from headmasters of elementary schools in the Borough.
The Public Health (Measles and German Measles) Regulations,
1915, were withdrawn by Order in Council on 31st December,
1919.
Encephalitis Lethargica.—The Public Health (Acute Encephalitis
Lethargica and Acute Polio Encephalitis) Regulations, 1918,
came into operation on 1st January, 1919. During the year
8 cases were notified, of which number 6 were fatal.
The Ministry of Health and the London County Council were
in the majority of cases supplied with full histories of the course
of each patient's illness, but in several instances the medical
practitioners in attendance on cases certified by them definitely
refused to furnish the details desired upon the grounds that there
was no statutory obligation cast upon them to do so and no fees