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88
analytical table prepared by Dr. Alcock, the tuberculosis officer,
who investigated 70 cases of tuberculosis attending the Maze
Hill Clinic for the first time during 1937. The table is an attempt
to show the significance to be attached to the different symptoms
associated with the disease. It is interesting to note that in only
40% of cases was Dr. Alcock able to elicit a family history. He
considers that this points to a considerable amount of infection
occurring outside the family circle. It is possible, of course, that
the figure may be to some extent accounted for by unintentional
concealment and the understandable tendency not to disclose such
a history in these cases.
Hospital Accommodation.—Towards the end of the year the
London County Council circularised London Boroughs regretting
that owing to the shortage of nurses it would not be possible to
provide accommodation in their infectious diseases hospitals in all
cases needing hospital treatment, and that until further notice the
admission of cases of scarlet fever, measles, whooping cough and
dysentery would be limited to those cases which in the opinion
of the Borough Medical Officer of Health were considered desirable
having regard to the home conditions and the severity of the
disease, and, in the case of measles, the age of the patient.
Sickness and Invalidity.—It has been suggested that sewer
workers as a class suffer from less illness than other workers and
this seems to be true for those employ^ d locally. In this connection
it is interesting to note that special attention must be paid
to the possibility of spirochaetal infection. In other parts of
London instances have occurred of such infection among sewer
workers. In general it may bo said that there aro no occupations
locally which might be regarded as causing undue sickness or
invalidity among those employed therein.
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
treated with Formalin.
The following returns show in detail the amount of work performed
during the year by the Disinfecting Staff:—