View report page

52
PNEUMONIA, MALARIA, DYSENTERY AND TRENCH FEVER.
Malaria.
All cases of this disease were compulsorily notifiable from March 1st, 1919.
During the nine months 98 cases were notified. No deaths were recorded.
Without exception the cases notified had contracted the infection abroad,
and most of them on military service. There was no evidence whatever of
spread of the disease or of any endemic cases.
Every case has been visited, and such assistance and advice as was possible
(including the arranging of removal to hospital in suitable cases) given in
relation to the treatment and nursing of the patients. This also applies to
the dysentery cases (see below).
Dysentery.
All cases of this disease were compulsorily notifiable from March 1st, 1919.
During the nine months six cases were notified. Five deaths from dysentery
were certified during the year. The fatal cases had not been notified, and it
is probable that a number of imported cases of dysentery came under
medical notice without having been notified.
Without exception the cases reported had contracted the infection abroad,
and there was no evidence of the spread of the disease.
Trench Fever.
This disease was compulsorily notifiable from March 1st, 1919. Only one
case was reported, who had contracted his infection on military service
abroad. There were no deaths.
Pneumonia.
Cases of Acute Primary Pneumonia and Acute Influenzal Pneumonia were
compulsorily notifiable from March, 1919. In the nine mouths there were
notified 86 cases of the former and 213 of the latter. There is reason to
believe that the notification of these diseases is by no means complete, and
this is largely due to the fact that in so many instances it is not
clear to the medical attendant whether the case is to be regarded as one
of "acute primary" or "influenzal" pneumonia on the one hand or
of a kind of pneumonia which is not included in these terms,, and is
consequently not " notifiable " on the other.
Of the notified cases of Primary Pneumonia a considerable proportion were
notified after they have been admitted to hospital.
In regard to influenza as a cause of pneumonia, reference may be made to
page 53 of this report.
During the year there were 179 deaths ascribed to Broncho-Pneumonia,
Lobar Pneunlonia, and Pneumonia (unqualified).
Every case notified has been visited, and such assistance given as the case
seemed to require. In this connection we have been able to arrange for help
through the local district nursing associations and the St. Pancras Home
Helps Committee, payment being made to these bodies by the Borough
Council, and in some cases removal to the Infirmaries.