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80
Influenza, unless accompanied by pneumonia, is not notifiable.
Towards the end of the year a most informative memorandum
was issued by the Ministry of Health. This is the first publication
on the causation and prophylaxis of this disease since notification
was made compulsory in 1915.
Tuberculosis.—During the year there were 115 cases of
Tuberculosis notified in the Borough, as compared with 136 for
the previous year. This is the lowest total recorded since
notification became compulsory in 1908. Of this number, 91 were
pulmonary cases, ordinarily known as Consumption, and 24 nonpulmonary,
being Tuberculosis affecting other portions of the body
than the lungs. Of this number of cases, 34 pulmonary and 14
non-pulmonary occurred in East Greenwich, 18 pulmonary and 7
non-pulmonary in West Greenwich, 9 pulmonary in St. Nicholas,
30 pulmonary and 3 non-pulmonary in Charlton and Kidbrooke.
The various ages of the patients were as follow:—Pulmonary cases:
one to five, 2 cases ; five to fifteen, 5 cases; fifteen to twenty-five,
28 cases; twenty-five to forty-five, 38 cases; forty-five to sixty-five,
16 cases; and 2 cases over sixty-five; whilst the Non-pulmonary
were: Under one year, 1 case; between one and five, 4 cases;
five to fifteen, 5 cases; fifteen to twenty-five, 6 cases; twenty-five
to forty-five, 6 cases; forty-five to sixty-five, 1 case and over 65
years, 1 case.
Four hundred and twenty-two specimens were forwarded
by medical practitioners for bacteriological investigation from
patients suspected to be consumptive; 366 were reported to be
negative and 56 positive.
Disinfection has been offered and carried out in 74 cases,
including 116 rooms and 286 articles of bedding, etc.; disinfection
has also been supplied to patients to disinfect sputum, etc., and
sputum pots where such are found necessary.
DISINFECTION OF PREMISES.
The disinfection of rooms from which patients suffering from
notifiable infectious diseases have been removed is carried out by
means of the formaldehyde spray. For other than notifiable conditions
disinfection is carried out on request, and a charge made
according to the circumstances of the case. Bedding and wearing
material are removed to the Disinfecting Station, Tunnel Avenue,
and are there submitted to steam disinfection. Books are now
treated with Formalin.
The following returns show in detail the amount of work performed
during the year by the Disinfecting Staff:—