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107
Eight cases were removed to hospital and no fatalities were
recorded.
Erysipelas.—Six cases were notified compared with 5 last
year and 11 for 1953. Two cases received hospital treatment.
Zymotic Enteritis or Epidemic Diarrhoea (Children under
5 years of age).—Originally 8 cases were notified but this figure was
modified and 7 were eventually recorded as confirmed compared
with 15 for the previous year. Of these, 4 were under one year and
3 between 1 and 5 years.
Unfortunately it is necessary to record the death of a child of
3½ months, one of the 7 admitted to hospital.
Sonne 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 contaminated by the unwashed hands of persons excreting
pathogenic bacteria. Rigorous attention to this one principle of
hygiene would go a long way towards reducing those ' explosive '
outbreaks which can be so very difficult to track down.
Compared with a figure of 70 for 1954, during the current year
some 17 cases were confirmed after the receipt of 18 notifications,
one case being re-diagnosed as food poisoning. Six patients were
removed to hospital.
Area distribution was as follows :—East Greenwich 7 and
Charlton and Kidbrooke 10.
In order to limit the spread of infection every case was diligently
investigated by the Sanitary Inspector and arrangements were made
by the department for the collection of faecal specimens from all
cases and contacts. Many local practitioners took advantage of
this service and called for faecal samples from suspects.
Treatment of all positive cases was continued until two consecutive
specimens proved bacteriologically negative.
Scabies.—Four cases were so notified compared with 5 for the
previous year.
Treatment of all cases of scabies is carried out at the Tunnel
Avenue Centre.