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103
Typhoid Fever.—Compared with a NIL return for 1953, one
case was notified during the current year concerning a 13 year old
boy who was removed t.o hospital.
Despite thorough investigation, the source of the infection
remained undiscovered. Faecal specimens were taken from the
remainder of the family for bacteriological examination and the water
supply at and to the house was tested by this department and the
Metropolitan Water Board respectively, all without success.
It was ascertained that the patient was in the habit of purchasing
unwrapped ice—cream and ice lollies from a local shop and
samples of these were taken without result. Faecal specimens were
taken from 5 people who served these unwrapped products and no
pathogenic organisms were isolated.
The only other information obtained was elicited from enquiries
made at the hospital by the Physician Superintendent. It
was to the effect that the patient had eaten winkles some 2 months
before the onset of his illness.
Scarlet Fever. Sixty—nine cases were notified during the
year and this figure shows a very satisfactory reduction of 77 from
that of 1953.
Eight cases were removed to hospital but no fatalities were
recorded.
Area distribution was as follows :—East Greenwich 18 ; West
Greenwich 15 ; St. Nicholas, Deptford 2 ; Charlton and Kidbrooke
34.
Erysipelas.—Five cases were notified compared with 11 for
the previous year.
Two cases received hospital treatment.
Zymotic Enteritis or Epidemic Diarrhoea (Children under
5 years of age).—Orignally 17 cases were notified but this figure was
modified and 15 were eventually recorded as confirmed compared
with 16 for the previous year. Of these, 8 were under one year and
7 between 1 and 5 years.
Unfortunately it is necessary to record the death of a child of
2 months, one of the 10 admitted to hospital.
Dysentery.—This disease, although comparatively mild is
highly infectious and troublesome to eradicate and it is the very fact
that many of the cases appear trivial and symptomless that makes its
detection so elusive. The most usual means of spread is by food