View report page

28
In view of the epidemic of Measles during the first six months
of the year and the difficulty experienced in obtaining hospital
accommodation for the treatment of serious cases, a Conference was
held at the Metropolitan Asylums Board's offices on the 9th June,
1923, consisting of members of the M.A.B., Ministry of Health, and
the Metropolitan Branch of the Society of Medical Officers of Health,
to consider as to the desirability of the M.A.B. making better provision
than has hitherto been the custom.
Statistics showed that in London during the quarter ended
1st April, 1922, there were 642 deaths from Measles as against 387
for Diphtheria and 131 for Scarlet Fever, thus unquestionably
showing the need for more adequate Hospital provision for those
cases of Measles occurring in the thickly populated areas.
It was pointed out, however, that the greater proportion of
Infectious Diseases were treated in the Board's Outlying Hospitals,
which Institutions were unsuitable for cases of Measles.
After full consideration of all the circumstances an understanding
was arrived at that the accommodation would be extended and
that such cases forwarded by Medical Officers of Health would be
specially considered.
Zymotic Enteritis or Summer Diarrhoea.—Twenty-nine
cases of Diarrhoea were notified throughout the whole of the Borough,
12 being under one year of age and 17 between one and five. Eight
of such notifications related to patients in East Greenwich, 18 in
West Greenwich, 2 in St. Nicholas and 1 in Charlton.
There were no deaths ascribed to this disease, compared with
27 in the previous year.
Whooping Cough.—This disease was made permanently notifiable
as from the 1st November, 1921.
Four hundred and eight cases were notified (compared with
321 in 1920), 40 being under one year of age, 153 from one to five,
209 from five to fifteen, 2 from fifteen to twenty-five, 3 from 25 to
45, and one from 45 to 65 years, the districts concerned being East
Greenwich, 179; West Greenwich, 134; St. Nicholas, 20; Charlton,
69; and 6 in Kidbrooke. Each of these cases was visited and
leaflets and instructions left, together with verbal advice respecting
the isolation and care of the patient.
Epidemic Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis, Cerebro-Spinal
Fever, or Post-Basal Meningitis.—There were 3 cases of this
disease notified during the year, all of which occurred in East
Greenwich.