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46
Small-Pox.
Thirteen cases of small-pox were notified in Battersea during
1932 compared with 3 in the previous year, and 7 in 1930. Three
persons in one family, and in two other instances two members of
the same family, were attacked, so that the disease occurred in
9 different households in the Borough. Of the 13 cases, 10 were
unvaccinated, and in the other 3 vaccination had been carried out
in infancy. The ages of the patients who had been vaccinated in
infancy were 57, 37 and 30 years respectively. In each case the
attack was of the prevailing mild character known as Variola Minor
and there were no fatal cases.
All the patients were removed to the isolation hospital, the
average duration of their stay being 18 days.
The usual routine disinfection, etc., was carried out immediately
after the patients' removal to hospital and all contacts were offered
vaccination or re-vaccination. Forty-seven contacts consented to
be vaccinated, and two refused. The contacts were visited daily by
the Sanitary Inspectorial Staff up to the 19th day after the patient's
removal to hospital.
During the year there were 1,134 cases of this disease recorded
in London, and in England and Wales 2,070 cases.
It is satisfactory to note that notwithstanding the prevalence
of the disease in the County, Battersea was comparatively free.
224 "contacts" with cases of small-pox occurring in other
districts were reported to the Medical Officer of Health, and were
visited daily for 19 days. This involved much extra work for the
Sanitary Inspectorial Staff.
No vaccinations were performed by the Medical Officer of
Health during the year under report.
Scarlet Fever.
The incidence of Scarlet Fever was somewhat higher in 1932,
545 cases being notified as compared with 448 in the previous year.
The case-rate per 1,000 of the population was 3.47 and 4
deaths were registered from the disease, giving a death-rate of 0.03
per 1,000 population, as compared with 6 deaths and a death-rate
of 0.04 in 1931, 2 deaths and a death-rate of 0.01 in 1930, and 4
deaths and a death-rate of 0.025 in 1929.
Of the cases notified 532 or 97.6 per cent. were removed to
hospital. The infected houses numbered 450.
In 50 other notified cases (not included in the above total),
the diagnosis of Scarlet Fever was not confirmed at hospital.