View report page

159
The Council make a grant to the two local Nursing Associations
in respect of home nursing in which cases of Measles are included.
During the epidemic, 979 visits were made to 95 homes.
The use of Serums by General Practitioners.
(1) Adult Serum was given to six children, five of whom did not
develop Measles; one had a slight attack.
(2) Convalescent Serum was given to 14 children. In every case
the child had a modified attack.
Once again it is necessary to stress the importance of trying to
prevent or modify the disease in young children in whom the mortality
tends to be high. Isolation of a patient is often very difficult at home
and removal to Hospital is advisable if isolation facilities are not
satisfactory. Hospital treatment is also indicated in very severe cases
in which broncho-pneumonia and other complications are present. It
is hoped that a more liberal supply of serum will be available in future
epidemics.
Whooping Cough.
Whooping Cough has never previously been compulsorily notifiable
in the Borough, but such cases as had come to our knowledge, principally
through the notifications received from School Teachers of children
absent from school on account of their suffering from, or being contacts
of the disease, had been visited by the Health Visitors in order to
offer hospitalling of suitable cases or to ensure that cases were being
properly nursed.
All medical practitioners were duly informed of the new arrangements
which, as in the case of Measles, came into operation on the 1st
October, 1938.
From 1st October, when this disease became compulsorily notifiable,
until the end of the year, 26 cases were reported. Of these cases
five were removed to hospital, while in one case, the nurses of the
local District Nursing Association were asked to attend. An advisory
leaflet is left in each case visited.
Venereal Disease.
Skilled treatment can be obtained by anyone free of charge and
under conditions of secrecy at any of the Centres that have been set