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47
Towards the end of the year several cases of Scarlet Fever
occurred amongst pupils attending a large boarding and day
secondary school in the Borough. The control of an outbreak of
infectious disease is rendered more difficult where, as in this case,
the pupils include boarders and day boys, there being 110 of the
former, and 240 of the latter. There were grounds for suspicion
that in this outbreak the infection was introduced from without
by the day scholars. Fortunately, owing to the prompt steps
taken, the outbreak did not assume serious proportions. Between
the 18th October and the 15th December when the boys dispersed
for the Christmas holidays, there were 14 cases of Scarlet
Fever—13 boys and 1 master. Two of the boys were previously
excluded from school and sent home, and were afterwards notified
as suffering from Scarlet Fever from districts outside the Borough.
A routine daily medical inspection of all the boys was carried
out, and the School was closed for the Christmas vacation a week
before the usual date, when information was sent to the Medical
Officers of Health of the districts to which the boys returned.
Diphtheria.
The number of cases of Diphtheria notified in Battersea during
1932 was 312 as compared with 298 in 1931, 489 in 1930, 445 in 1929,
and 652 in 1928.
The number of deaths registered from the disease was 9,
giving a death-rate of 0.06 as compared with 5 deaths and a deathrate
of 0.03 in 1931, 15 deaths and a death-rate of 0.09 in 1930,
12 deaths and a death-rate of 0.07 in 1929, and 26 deaths and a
death-rate of 0.16 in 1928.
Of the 312 cases notified 311 or 99.7 per cent. were removed
to hospital. The infected houses numbered 273.
In 48 other cases notified (not included in the above total) the
diagnosis of Diphtheria was not confirmed at hospital.
The case-rate per 1,000 population was 1.99 as compared
with 1.86 in 1931, 3.04 in 1930, 2.75 in 1929, and 3.97 in 1928.
The case-mortality was 2.88 per cent. as compared with 1.68 per
cent. in 1931, 3.07 per cent. in 1930, 2.70 per cent. in 1929, and
3.99 per cent. in 1928.
The incidence of the disease was highest in the Park, Church
and Winstanley Wards.
Diphtheria anti-toxin, in accordance with the recommendation
of the Ministry of Health, is supplied free of charge on the request
of any registered medical practitioner, at any hour of the day or
night.
During the year 47 phials (approximately 220,000 units) of
anti-toxin were supplied, on request, to medical practitioners
practising in the Borough.