View report page

40
The case-rate per 1,000 population was 2.18 in 1924 as compared
with 2.19 in 1923, 3.96 in 1922, and 4.21 in 1921. The
case-mortality in 1924 was 6.7 per cent. as compared with 9.1
in 1923. The average case-mortality per cent. for the ten years
1914-1923 was 8.36 as compared with 7.97 for the previous
decennium.
The 372 cases of diphtheria occurred in 311 infected houses.
All cases were removed to hospital.
The incidence of the disease was highest in the Nine Elms,
Winstanley and Park Wards, these three wards contributing 59.4
per cent. of the total cases notified.
In 66 cases notified (not included in the above total) the diagnosis
of diphtheria was not confirmed at hospital.
The facilities provided by the Council under the Anti-toxin
Order, 1910, for the bacteriological examination of swabs from
suspected cases of diphtheria are largely availed of by medical
practitioners practising in the Borough. Anti-toxin is also supplied
free on personal or written application by doctors, and can be
obtained by them at any hour of the day or night at the Town Hall.
Enteric Fever.
During 1924 there were 9 cases of enteric fever notified in
Battersea as compared with 12 cases in 1923. There were 3 deaths
from this cause as against 2 deaths in the previous year.
Three of the cases notified were cancelled, the diagnosis of
enteric fever not having been confirmed at hospital.
The source of infection in the 6 definite cases of enteric fever
was, in the main, conjectural. In one case, however, the infection
was traceable to an outbreak in an adjoining borough involving 4
members of a family residing in that district and a relative living
in Battersea.
Cerebro-Spinal Fever.
During 1924 four cases of epidemic cerebro-spinal meningitis
were notified in Battersea as compared with 4 cases in 1923 and
2 cases in 1922. All the cases were fatal.
Encephalitis Lethargica.
There were 14 cases of encephalitis lethargica (sleepy sickness)
notified in Battersea during 1924, as compared with 3 cases in 1923,
2 cases in 1922, and 12 cases in 1921. In two of these cases the
diagnosis was not confirmed in hospital.
On the other hand a death certified to be due to Acute Encephalitis
was on investigation ascribed to Encephalitis Lethargica.
No notification was received in respect of this case. This makes
the total number of cases 13, and there were five deaths registered
from the disease, giving a case-mortality of 38.4 per cent.