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48
Small-Pox.
Four cases of small-pox were notified in Battersea during
1933 compared with 13 in the previous year, and 3 in 1931. Two
persons in one family, and in the two other instances one member
of the family was attacked, so that the disease occurred in 3 different
households in the Borough. Of the 4 cases, 3 were unvaccinated
when attacked, and in the case of the other patient, who was 52
years of age, vaccination had been carried out in infancy. In each
case the attack was of the mild type 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 15 days.
The usual routine disinfection, etc., was carried out immediately
after the patient's removal to hospital and all contacts (34 in number)
were offered vaccination or re-vaccination, 20 of whom consented
to be vaccinated; four had been vaccinated during recent years,
and 10 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 530 cases of this disease recorded
in London, and in England and Wales 631 cases.
It is satisfactory to note that notwithstanding the prevalence
of the disease in the County, Battersea was comparatively free.
Sixteen "contacts" with cases of small-pox occurring in other
districts were reported to the Medical Officer of Health, and were
kept under daily observation for the requisite period.
No vaccinations were performed by the Medical Officer of
Health during the year under report.
Scarlet Fever.
The incidence of Scarlet Fever was much higher in 1933,
826 cases being notified as compared with 545 in the previous year.
The case-rate per 1,000 of the population was 5.36 and 6
deaths were registered from the disease, giving a death-rate of 0.04
per 1,000 population, as compared with 4 deaths and a death-rate
of 0.03 in 1932, 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 813 or 98.4 per cent. were removed to
hospital. The infected houses numbered 726.
In 59 other notified cases (not included in the above total),
the diagnosis of Scarlet Fever was not confirmed at hospital.
The question of "return cases" (i.e. cases of infectious disease
which occur within a short period after the return to the patient's
residence of another patient after treatment in a hospital for
infectious diseases) has not been greatly in evidence during recent
years in Battersea. It may be noted, however, that 31 of the cases
of Scarlet Fever notified in 1933 were of this description.