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A number of artificially fed infants were over-fed, particularly those having dried milk. Some
of them put on a pound in weight weekly.
Cases of vomiting occurred where the child was not ill and did not require routine treatment,
but had contracted a ' habit of vomiting ' ; some of these were cured by giving drugs, and others by
allowing them to suck Nestles milk from a spoon, this was followed in two and a half hours by giving
the patient a bottle of water.
The increase in the number of cases attended by myself is partly due to the doctors at welfare
centres requesting me to examine cases of dyspepsia with slight vomiting and diarrhoea. I think this
is a good rule to adopt as these patients are easily cured.
The majority of cases of diarrhoea and vomiting were due to dietetic causes.
I have worked in close co-operation with the Council's medical officers, and when I have ceased
attending cases I invariably forward to them my notes.
In the majority of cases the food most frequently associated with vomiting and diarrhoea was
ordinary fluid cow's milk."
In addition to the services of Dr. Carter, the council have an arrangement with the district
nursing association for the services of nurses to be available for the home treatment of diarrhoea.
During the year the nurses attended 139 cases, the total number of visits paid being 1,408.
Seventeen of the cases did not respond to home nursing, and these were admitted to hospital, where
four died.
Since 1924, 1,351 cases have been attended by the nurses, and the total number of deaths
amongst these is 50, making a case mortality rate of 3 7 per cent.
Poliomyelitis and Polio-encephalitis.—Nine cases of this disease were notified during the year,
four of the patients being females aged If, 4, 5 and 6½ years and five males aged 1, 2, 2½, 3 and
11 years.
In one case the diagnosis was not confirmed; six cases are still receiving treatment, and two
recovered after treatment.
Other notifiable diseases.—With the exception of tuberculosis, which is dealt with in a separate
section, no other notifiable infectious disease was notified.
Non-notifiable Diseases.
Measles.—There was one death from measles in Kensington. The women health officers paid
104 visits to measles patients. One hundred and six cases were removed to the London county
council hospitals.
Whooping cough.—There were five deaths from this cause. The deaths in the three preceding
years were 36, 3 and 13. The women health officers paid 175 visits to cases of this disease. The
number of cases admitted to hospitals from Kensington was 92.
In 1930, the borough council authorised the medical officer of health to open special whooping
cough clinics if the disease appeared in epidemic form in the borough, and for this purpose a sum of
£100 has been provided in the council's estimates each year. The arrangements provide for the clinics
to be opened at the baby clinic at No. 92, Tavistock Road, and at the Kenley Street minor ailment
centre. There was no occasion to open a clinic in 1937.