View report page

3
The efforts of your Council have been, as in the past,
considerably augmented by those of the Voluntary
Societies engaged in this branch of the Public Health
Services of the Borough.
With regard to infectious diseases, the total number
notified was below the average for the past 10 years.
This was due to the decrease in the number of cases of
measles.
Towards the end of the year the number of cases of
scarlet fever and diphtheria increased with the result that
the hospital accommodation available was overtaxed.
In November two children died from diphtheria, one
before the arrival of the doctor and the other whilst
awaiting the report of the pathologist on a swab. The
coroner held an inquest on the former.
Delay in the diagnosis of cases of diphtheria is often
followed with fatal results. If the clinical evidence is
such as to give reasonable grounds for assuming the case
to be positive it is imperative that antitoxin should be
immediately administered, even if the patient is to be
removed to hospital.
If the clinical evidence is not conclusive and it is
necessary to take a swab, antitoxin should be administered
at once and not delayed until the report is received from
the pathologist.
In connection with this I considered it advisable to
arrange for an address to be given on this question to the
medical practitioners practising in the Borough.
Through the courtesy of Sir Frederick Menzies, K.B.E.,
the Chief Medical Officer of the London County Council.