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34
NON-NOTIFIABLE DISEASES.
Diarrhœa and Enteritis.
The deaths from diarrhoea in children under two years of
age numbered eight. There is a concensus of opinion that if
all mothers breast-fed their babies for six months there would
be a diminution in the incidence of these diseases.
Influenza.
Influenza, unless complicated by pneumonia, is not
notifiable. No outbreak of influenza in epidemic form has
occurred in London since 1937. At the end of the year under
review influenza was very prevalent on the Continent but
had not reached England. In view of the possibility of the
epidemic reaching this country preparations were made to
limit the spread of the infection and to lessen the risk of secondary
complications. Influenza is usually spread from one person
to another by droplets and for that reason infected persons
should go to bed from the onset of the symptoms. Although
influenza does not exact a heavy toll of life yet every year it is
responsible for a great loss of working days. During 1948
there were two deaths in the Borough from this disease.
Verminous Persons.
The total number of treatments carried out during the
year at the Council's Cleansing Station is shown below: —