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77
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.
Many of these cases of infectious illness shown on such returns
are 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 1936 there were 426 cases of chicken-pox reported, as
compared with 178 in 1935, 457 in 1934, 790 in 1933, and 422 in 1932.
Diarrhoea.
During 1936 the total number of deaths from diarrhoea of
children under 2 years of age was 22, equivalent to a fatality-rate
of 0.15 per 1,000 of the population. In 1935 there were 19 deaths
and a fatality-rate of 0.13.
A small outbreak of gastro-enteritis, involving the death of
three infants, occurred in the Battersea General Hospital in March.
The usual methods of preventing the spread of infection were
adopted, and no fresh cases occurred.
Influenza.
There were 20* deaths registered as being due to Influenza
during 1936, as against 18 in 1935, 15 in 1934, 71 in 1933, and 40
in 1932. The mortality-rate per 1,000 population was 0.14, as
compared with 0.12 in 1935, 0.10 in 1934, 0.46 in 1933, and 0.25
in 1932.
Influenzal Pneumonia was slightly less prevalent in 1936 than
in the previous year, 43 cases being notified as against 47 in 1935,
41 in 1934, 86 in 1933 and 60 in 1932. The death-rate was 0.07
per 1,000 of the population, as in 1935.
Cancer.
During 1936 the number of deaths of Battersea residents from
Cancer was 260 (males 131, females 129) as compared with 265 in
1935, 240 in 1934, 289 in 1933, and 268 in 1932. The death-rate
from the disease per 1,000 of the population was 1.79. The deaths
from cancer constitute 13.7 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
1931-5
1.75
1901-5
0.88
1931
1.77
1906-10
0.95
1932
1.71
1911-15
1.11
1933
1.88
1916-20
1.28
1934
1.59
1921-25
1.33
1935
1.79
1926-30
1.51
1936
1.79
* 10 of these deaths were ascribed to Influenzal Pneumonia.