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51
SECTION 6.
PREVALENCE OF, AND CONTROL OVER, INFECTIOUS
DISEASES.

Small-Pox.—No case of this disease occurred during the year.
Contacts.—Eleven intimations were received from overseas by
Medical Officers of Health of the Port Sanitary Authorities respecting
persons who had been in contact with Small-Pox. In every instance
they were kept under observation for the usual period.
Details respecting vaccination in the Borough are given in the
Supplemental Vaccination Reports on page 58.
Diphtheria.—Four hundred and thirty-four cases of Diphtheria
were notified during the year, as compared with 595, 707, 275 and
319 respectively in the years 1921 1922, 1923 and 1924. The
distribution of these cases was as follows :—173 in East Greenwich,
127 in West Greenwich, 16 in St. Nicholas, 113 in Charlton, and 5 in
Kidbrooke.
Of this total number, 429 were removed to the Hospital for
treatment amongst which number the Hospital Authorities reported
that in 7 cases they considered the diagnosis incorrect. Five cases
were returned to Hospital for further treatment, after being discharged
as cured. All these were examined by your Medical Officer
of Health.
There were 14 fatalities due to this disease, which gives a case
mortality of 3.2 per cent.
Two thousand four hundred and forty-four specimens were
forwarded by medical practitioners for bacteriological investigation
from cases suspected to be diphtheria. Of this number, 2,219 were
reported to give negative or doubtful result, and 225 were positive
in character, being dealt with accordingly.