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There were fourteen fatalities due to Diphtheria, which gives a
case mortality of 3.5 per cent.
Two thousand five hundred and twenty-nine specimens were
forwarded by medical practitioners for bacteriological examination
from cases suspected to be diphtheria. Of this number, 2,232 were
reported to give negative or doubtful results, and 297 were positive
in character, being dealt with accordingly.
Measles.—As stated in previous Reports this disease was made
permanently notifiable in Greenwich in 1920. The same procedure
is adopted in dealing with epidemics as they arise. In view of
the highly infectious nature of this disease and the serious complications which sometimes follow it is interesting to learn that recent
advances in medicine have shown that the administration of serum
from patients convalescent from Measles if injected before the fifth
or sixth day of incubation will afford complete protection lasting
from two to four weeks, and if injected on the sixth or ninth day
of incubation the serum protects partially with the result that a
very mild attack of Measles follows. During the past months this
method of treatment has been tried in various London County
Council Hospitals with promising results.
One thousand one hundred and thirty-five cases were notified
during the year as compared with 1,975 cases for the previous year.
German Measles was unusually prevalent during the first two
quarters and was responsible for 547 cases.
The case mortality for the whole Borough works out at 0.17
per cent. as compared with 1.2 per cent. for the year 1932, and 2.4
per cent. for 1931.
Influenza.—Although influenza is not a notifiable Infectious
Disease, cases are reported by the Head Teachers of all London
County Council Schools. During January and February, when
Influenza became epidemic, intimations were received with regard to
1,452 children attending the various schools in the Borough.
Erysipelas.—Eighty-three cases were notified during the year,
37 being in East Greenwich, 14 in West Greenwich, 7 in St.
Nicholas and 25 in Charlton and Kidbrooke. Forty-one of these
patients were removed to a Public Institution in the district.
Scarlet Fever.—Six hundred and seventy-one cases were
notified during the year, as compared with 527, 256 and 426 cases
respectively in the years 1930, 1931 and 1932. Two hundred and