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66
NON-NOTIFIABLE DISEASES.
Information as to the occurrence of non-notifiable forms of
infectious disease is obtained chiefly from the returns made by the
head teachers of elementary schools which show the absences of
scholars which are attributed to illness, and the nature of the
disease.
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 1934 there were 457 cases of chicken-pox reported, as
compared with 790 in 1933, 422 in 1932, 492 in 1931, and 469 in 1930.
Diarrhœa.
During 1934 the total number of deaths from diarrhoea of
children under 2 years of age was 27, equivalent to a fatality-rate
of 0.18 per 1,000 of the population. In 1933 there were 22 deaths
and a fatality-rate of 0.14. The rate per 1,000 registered births
in 1934 was 12.5, as compared with 9.72 in 1933, 9.49 in 1932,
3.63 in 1931, and 7.92 in 1930.
Seven of these deaths occurred in the Church Ward, and 7 in
the Winstanley Ward, where proper means of storage and protection
of food from contamination are frequently absent or unsuitable.
Influenza.
There were 15* deaths registered as being due to Influenza
during 1934, as against 71 in 1933, 40 in 1932, 56 in 1931, and 14
in 1930. The mortality-rate per 1,000 population was 0.0, as
compared with 0.6 in 1933, 0.5 in 1932, 0.5 in 1931, and 0.9
in 1930.
Influenzal Pneumonia was less prevalent in 1934 than in the
previous year, 41 cases being notified as against 86 in 1933, 60 in
1932, 67 in 1931, and 43 in 1930. The death-rate was 0.3 per
1,000 of the population, as compared with 0.2 in 1933.
Cancer.
During 1934 the number of deaths of Battersea residents from
Cancer was 240 (males 126, females 114) as compared with 289 in
1933, 268 in 1932, 283 in 1931, and 242 in 1930. The death-rate
from the disease per 1,000 of the population was 1.59. The deaths
from cancer constitute 12.8 per cent. of the total Battersea deaths
during the year.
The following gives the comparative average death-rates from
Cancer in Battersea for quinquennial periods since 1896 :—
1896-1900 0.52 1928 1.51
1901-5 0.88 1929 1.50
1906-10 0.95 1930 1.51
1911-15 1.11 1931 1.77
1916-20 1.28 1932 1.71
1921-25 1.33 1933 1.88
1926-30 1.51 1934 1.59
* 5 of these deaths were ascribed to Influenzal Pneumonia.