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68
All cases of infectious illness shown on such returns are immediately
visited by the Sanitary Inspectorial and Health Visiting
staff, and such steps as may be desirable or necessary are taken
to prevent the spread of infection.
Chicken-Pox.
During 1931 there were 492 cases of chicken-pox reported, as
compared with 469 in 1930, 441 in 1929, 632 in 1928, and 671 in
1927.
Diarrhæa.
During 1931 the total number of deaths from diarrhæa of
children under 2 years of age was 9, equivalent to a fatality-rate
of 0.06 per 1,000 of the population. In 1930 there were 21 deaths
and a fatality-rate of 0.13. The rate per 1,000 registered births in
1931 was 3.63 as compared with 7.92 in 1930, 8.40 in 1929, and
9.48 in 1928.
Influenza.
There were 56* deaths registered as being due to Influenza
during 1931, as against 14 in 1930, 138 in 1929, 14 in 1928, and 83
in 1927. The mortality-rate was 0.35, as compared with 0.09 in
1930, 0.85 in 1929, 0.08 in 1928, and 0.49 in 1927.
Influenzal Pneumonia was more prevalent in 1931 than in the
previous year, 67 cases being notified as against 43 cases in 1930,
140 in 1929, and 51 in 1928. The death-rate was 0.42 per 1,000
of the population, as compared with 0.04 in 1930, 0.39 in 1929,
and 0.02 in 1928.
Ophthalmia.
During the year an outbreak of Ophthalmia occurred amongst
children attending a group of Public Elementary Schools in the
North-Western area of the Borough. From the investigations
which were made the outbreak appears to have originated in a
School in Church Ward and to have spread rapidly amongst the
scholars of Schools in the neighbourhood, about 500 cases being
reported.
Precautionary measures to limit the spread of infection were
taken in conjunction with the School Medical and Nursing Staffs
of the London County Council, and the outbreak eventually subsided.
The possibility of the Public Baths being the source of infection
in this case was considered and a careful investigation, including
an analysis of the bath water, was made. The results of these
investigations showed clearly that so far as the water was concerned,
this was not a factor in the spread of infection. The possibility of
* 23 of these deaths were ascribed to Influenzal Pneumonia.