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86
Whooping Cough.—Altogether 129 cases were reported
compared with 574 for the previous year. 26 occurred in East
Greenwich, 39 in West Greenwich, 6 in St. Nicholas and 58 in
Charlton and Kidbrooke.
There were 2 deaths giving a mortality of 1.5 per cent.
Twelve cases were removed to Hospital for treatment.
Every case was visited by the Health Visitors and leaflets
left with the parents or guardians with a view to advising them
as to the care of the patient.
Diphtheria.—The number of patients notified as suffering
from Diphtheria during the year was 253 (including 9 returned
as Membranous Croup), as compared with 307, 258, 367 and 422
for the years 1937, 1936, 1935 and 1934. Two hundred and
nine cases were removed to Hospital.
Four were reported by the Hospital authorities as not suffering
from this disease, and 26 Reports were received concerning patients
who were discharged but still suffering from the following conditions:
Tonsillitis 18, Otitis Media 2, Laryngitis 2, and Vincents
Angina, Rhinitis, and Croup one each. One case was discharged
as a carrier and received treatment at a carrier clinic.
The attack rate is equivalent to 2.60 per 1,000 population,
but taking the estimated child population of the Borough (0—15
years) as 23,000, the attack rate per 1,000 child population is 9.4.
There was 1 fatality due to Diphtheria which gives a case
mortality of 0.4 per cent.
In accordance with the Antitoxin Order, 1910, a supply of
Antitoxin is provided by the Council for the use of general practitioners
in emergency cases. Sixteen phials of Antitoxin, each
containing 10,000 units of serum, have been supplied during the
year.
One thousand three hundred and twelve swabs were forwarded
by medical practitioners for bacteriological examination from
cases suspected to be diphtheria. Of this number, 1,148 were
reported to give negative or doubtful results and 164 were positive
in character, being dealt with accordingly.
Diphtheria Immunisation. Under the Council's scheme 147
children were dealt with during the year. 122 of these were inoculated
with Toxoid Antitoxin Floccules, and 7 with Alum Precipitated
Toxoid. The remaining 18 cases were ones where the preliminary
schick tests were negative.