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34
It is desirable that Resident Medical Officers in city hospitals
should he informed that in cases in which death has occurred, the
body must not be allowed to be taken home for burial. In cases which
have died from an infectious disease, the body can only be removed
direct to the place of burial.
Acute Pneumonia, Malaria and Dysentery.
The deaths from pneumonia numbered 114, and with 153 notified,
this serves to show that probably 200 cases were not notified. Urgent
representations have been made to the medical profession locally. It
is obvious that housing and atmospheric conditions are again at work.
Forty-one of the notified cases occurred in the East Ward and 51 in
the North-west Ward. Only 16 cases were removed to hospital. As
each case is notified the physician in charge is asked whether he wishes
the case removed to hospital.
Dysentery—No cases occurred.
Malaria—Five cases were notified, due steps being taken to see that
quinine was being supplied.
Public Health (Small-pox Prevention) Regulations, 1917.
No vaccinations were performed by the Medical Officer of Health.
Cancer.
Cancer leaflets are distributed. Disinfection is carried out in case
of death from this disease, upon a request being received.
Measles
Became notifiable under the Deptford (Measles) Regulations, 1922, on
September 11th. This disease strikes the Borough with lancinating,
search-ray thoroughness every two years. Again in 1925 the Borough
Council appointed a special nurse at the peak of the epidemic to visit
and advise in the homes. Where the contacts are at the dangerous
age, say from one to three years, these should be protected by isolating
the sufferer. In Deptford this is not practicable; the old story, overcrowding.
The Metropolitan Asylums Board with its brilliant clerk,
Mr. Powell, organised a scheme whereby children from overcrowded
homes, and complicated cases could be admitted to hospital.
There is nothing fresh to be said about measles. Measles and
Diphtheria are two of the greatest threats to child life to-day.