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Food Poisoning.
Cases of food poisoning and suspected food poisoning are
notifiable in London under Section 7 of the L.C.C. General Powers
Act, 1932. (Since October 1st, 1936, Section 182 of the Public
Health (London) Act, 1936.)
Only one case of food poisoning was notified by a medical
practitioner during the year. The article of food consumed which
was suspected to be responsible for the illness, which was however
slight in character, was bloater paste.
NON-NOTIFIABLE DISEASES.
Measles.
Information as to the incidence of measles in the Borough
is obtained through the School Medical Service and from the Health
Visitors, and during the year 2,058 cases were reported from these
sources. This disease occurs in epidemic form every two years.
The epidemic which commenced in November 1935 continued until
August 1936, the peak being reached in March 1936, when over
100 cases a week were being reported.
The Measles Scheme of Control was put into force at the
commencement of the epidemic which worked well on the whole
as an instrument to secure effective control of the disease.
At the end of the epidemic period statistical particulars were
furnished to the London County Council at their request as in
previous epidemic periods.
The Health Visitors visited every case of suspected measles
brought to the notice of the Department and home nursing services
were provided in 65 instances. The number of children admitted
to fever hospitals was 440. There were 32 deaths from measles
during the year. The age distribution of patients who died from
this disease is given in the following table.
Under 1 year.
1 - 2 years.
5 - 15 years.
2 - 5 years.
Total.
7
12
9
4
32
Measles Prophylaxis.
The efficiency of measles anti-serum is beyond dispute. The
prophylactic use of serum obtained from convalescent measles
patients and from adults who in childhood have suffered from
measles does not seem to have found favour with general medical
practitioners in the Borough, as during the year only one enquiry
was received at the Public Health Department for this serum.