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47
Public Health (Treatment of Infectious Disease) Regulations,
1934.
These Regulations, which came into force on 1st July, gave
power to local authorities by whom hospitals for persons suffering
from infectious disease are provided to admit to such hospitals
persons temporarily resident in their districts.
Public Health (Shellfish) Regulations, 1934.
These Regulations, dated 7th December, and made by the
Minister of Health, empower local authorities, in the case of illness
attributable to shellfish, or where the consumption of shellfish
is likely to cause danger to public health, to take measures to
prohibit the sale of shellfish from suspected layings.
Small-Pox.
One case of mild small-pox (Variola minor) occurred in Battersea
in 1934, as compared with 4 in 1933 and 13 in 1932. The patient
was a boarder (unvaccinated) at a large school in the Borough,
which was about to break up for the vacation. When the patient
was notified most of the immediate contacts had already departed
for their homes, and the Medical Officers of Health of the various
districts were notified. So far as is known no further cases occurred.
The usual precautions were taken.
During the year 181 cases of small-pox were notified in England
and Wales, including 146 in London.
Two 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 lower in 1934, 616 cases
being notified as compared with 826 in the previous year.
The case-rate per 1,000 of the population was 4.08 and no
death was registered from the disease. There were 6 deaths with
a death-rate of 0.04 in 1933, 4 deaths and a death-rate of 0.03 in
1932, 6 deaths and a death-rate of 0.04 in 1931, and 2 deaths
and a death-rate of 0.01 in 1930.
Of the cases notified 596 or 96.8 per cent. were removed to
hospital. The infected houses numbered 540.
In 62 other notified cases (not included in the above total),
the diagnosis of scarlet fever was not confirmed at hospital.