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Enteric Fever
Two cases of typhoid fever and three cases of paratyphoid B.
fever were notified during 1953. Investigations revealed that
the infections had been contracted abroad with the exception of
one case of paratyphoid fever. In this case, a youth of 16 years,
it was stated that the patient had never been out of this
country, and enquiries failed to reveal the source of infection.
Puerperal pyrexia
During 1953, the number of cases of this disease notified
was sixty-five, of whom thirty were persons normally resident
outside the borough. Fifty-nine of the cases were t reated in
hospital.
Information was received in the public health department
concerning forty-one patients normally resident in Kensington,
who were notified as suffering from puerperal pyrexia in other
London districts.
No deaths occurred under this heading.
Pneumonia
There are various forms of pneumonia, but the only types
notifiable are (i) acute primary and (ii) acute influenzal
pneumonias. During the year, ninety-three notifications were
received, forty-five being acute primary pneumonia and fortyeight
being acute influenzal pneumonia. Of the total, fortynine
cases were removed to hospitals for treatment.
The number of deaths from pneumonia (all forms) was
ninety-six and the number of deaths from influenza was thirtythree
during 1953.
Dysentery
One hundred and thirty-one cases of dysentery were
notified in 1953, all of which were bacillary in origin, the
majority being due to Sonne bacillus. Generally speaking the
cases were of a mild type and there were no deaths.
During 1952, a small committee of public health officers
from the London County Council, Metropolitan Boroughs and the
Laboratory service was set up to consider the problem of Sonne
Dysentery with particular reference to the effect of environment
on the spread of infection. The Medical Officer of Health was
invited to be a member of this committee.
The Committee decided to investigate each case of dysentery
occurring in the London area between 1st November, 1952 and
31st October, 1953. A survey was conducted by means of
questionnaires which were analysed at the London County Council.
During the period in question, one hundred and eleven
questionnaire forms were submitted in respect of Kensington
cases. The analysis was still continuing at the end of the year
and the findings on this difficult problem are not yet available.
Erysipelas
Of the eleven cases notified, two were admitted to
hospital. There was no deaths.