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Board Hospital, 2 were treated in the Infirmary, and the
majority of the other cases were attending as out-patients at
General Hospitals.
Acute Polio Myelitis and Polio Encephalitis.
During 1920, one case of acute polio-myelitis was notified,
and one case of polio-cncephalitis. The former was treated at
home, the latter being removed to St. Thomas' Hospital.
Both cases recovered. Six cases of polio-myelitis occurred in
1919, none of which were fatal. No case of polio-encephalitis
was recorded during that year.
Diarrhœa.
Diarrhoea was not unduly prevalent in Battersea during
1920, the number of deaths recorded being 64. The deathrate
was 0.39 per 1,000. The number of deaths of infants
under 1 year of age from this cause (including enteritis) was 48.
Special measures of precaution are taken by the Health
Department to prevent epidemic diarrhœa, which is one of the
chief causes of infant mortality. These measures are mainly
set out in the work of the Health Visiting Staff, and include
the following:—
(1) Visiting of houses wherein births were notified
under the Notification of Births Act, 1907, or wherein
deaths have occurred from epidemic diarrhœa.
(2) Distribution of leaflets setting out the danger to
life from summer diarrhœa, and the precautions to be
taken to prevent the contamination of food supplies
(especially milk), the necessity for strict attention to
domestic and personal cleanliness, the importance of
ventilation, and the free admission of fresh air and sunlight
to living rooms.
(3) Teaching of proper feeding, especially breastfeeding,
and the care and management of infants, which
is carried on systematically at the Infant Welfare Centres
throughout the Borough.
(4) Supply of dried or fresh milk at cost price or at
reduced rates or free in necessitous cases to children
under 5 years and to nursing and expectant mothers.
Measles and German Measles.
During 1920, 1,290 cases, of measles and German measles
were reported. Forty-five deaths occurred from measles, as