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was 164, of which number 73 gave a positive reaction. The number of children who were presented
for schick testing after having received immunising inoculations totalled 564, of this number 493
proved negative, 46 remained positive, and 25 failed to reattend for the reading.
Considerable efforts have been made to bring the value of diphtheria immunisation to the notice
of the public. The propaganda officer frequently spoke on this subject at welfare centres, clubs and
so on; the council's diphtheria immunisation film was shown as often as possible; and all members
of the staff were constantly bringing the advantages of this preventive measure to the notice of
parents with whom they came in contact.
Enteric Fever.—Fourteen cases of this disease were notified, ten being in South Kensington
and four in North Kensington. Twelve of the patients were removed to hospital.
The fourteen cases were all of a sporadic nature. A thorough investigation regarding the
origin of the disease took place in every case Disinfection of the patient's home and personal
effects was undertaken.
There was one death from this diease during the year.
Erysipelas.—Forty-nine cases were notified, 35 of these being removed to hospital. There
were two deaths from this disease, as compared with 3, 5 and 3 in the three preceding years.
Ophthalmia Neonatorum.—Eleven cases of this disease were notified. Seven of the patients
were removed to hospital, and the other four were nursed at home.
In every case the patient recovered without any injury to sight.
Puerperal Fever.—Six cases of this disease were notified and five were removed to hospital.
The sixth case was nursed at home. In all notified cases the patient recovered. There were two
deaths.
Puerperal Pyrexia.—-Thirty-six cases of this disease were notified, 32 of the patients being
confined in hospital and four in their own homes. One of the four confined at home was subsequently
removed to hospital for treatment.
Two of the notified cases proved fatal.
The council, as suggested by the Minister of Health, have provided facilities for expert assistance
in diagnosis and treatment for patients who are unable to secure this for themselves. In this connection,
Dr. A. Morris Johns, a specialist at Queen Charlotte's Hospital, was appointed to the position
of consulting gynaecologist and obstetrician some years ago. His services are available to any
general practitioner or midwife on request.
Pneumonia and Influenzal Pneumonia.—There are many forms of pneumonia, but the only
kinds notifiable are acute primary pneumonia and acute influenzal pneumonia. Ninety-eight
notifications were received during the year, 86 patients being certified as suffering from acute primary
pneumonia and 12 from influenzal pneumonia.
The number of deaths from pneumonia was 143, and 13 deaths were certified to be due to
influenza.
Acute Rheumatism.—Forty-nine cases were notified.
The tenth annual report on the working of the rheumatism scheme during the period
1st October, 1937, to 30th September, 1938, prepared by the medical officer of health and the
physician in charge of the rheumatism centre, appears as appendix I to this report.
Cerebro-spinal Meningitis.—Six cases of this disease were notified, four of the patients being
females aged 40, 39, 23 and 1 year, and the other two males aged 24 and 21 years. In each case
the patient recovered completely.
Dysentery.—Eighty-five cases of dysentery were notified. One was of the amoebic type and the
rest were bacillary in origin.
The majority of these cases were due to the Sonne bacillus. It was noted in the 1937 report
that there had been an increase in the incidence of dysentery which had affected the country as a
whole. This epidemic was still present in the first four months of 1938, and was responsible for the
relatively large number of cases notified. Many of the cases notified followed bacteriological
examinations of the faeces in very slight cases of diarrhoea in children. These examinations were
performed at the request of medical practitioners who had been notified that a number of Sonne
dysentery cases had occurred, and been asked to be on the look out. In addition a number of
persons harbouring the Sonne bacillus, who gave no history of intestinal upset, were discovered as a
result of examinations of the faeces of contacts.
It seems probable that there are many carriers among the normal healthy population, and
in other years some cases of mild Sonne dysentery have probably gone unrecognised.
The cases generally were of a mild type but there was one death.
Enteritis (Zymotic) or Summer Diarrhœa.—Fifty cases of zymotic enteritis were notified. In
considering the value to be attached to this figure two points must be remembered. First, the
disease is notifiable only in children under five years of age. Second, zymotic or infective enteritis