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10
Scarlet Fever. Scarlet Fever of which 55 cases were notified
was slightly more prevalent than in recent years but was still
of a mild form. The cases were spread evenly throughout the
year. The highest number (l8) occurred in children of 4 or
5 years of age.
Smallpox. No case of smallpox occurred in Hampstead. In June
we received notification that a case had been confirmed in an
unvaccinated child in another borough. As the patient had
been an inmate of a large general hospital there were numerous
contacts.
All Hampstead medical practitioners were informed of
the circumstances and numerous visits were paid by the Public
Health Inspectors to contacts who lived in Hampstead to give
any necessary advice and ensure the contacts' early vaccination.
In order to avoid delay a number of contacts attended at the
Public Health Department for vaccination.
Subsequent investigation revealed that altogether 6
cases of smallpox had occurred, originating in a man who had
been to West Africa on a business trip. There was one death.
When knowledge of the outbreak became public, there was a
considerable demand for vaccination and the moral is that
routine vaccination in infancy is still as important as ever
it was.
Typhoid Fever. There were 3 cases of typhoid fever. In 2
cases the infection was contracted outside Hampstead. The first
case was a foreigner who was removed to hospital from a hotel
in Paddington, but by the time the illness had been diagnosed
the patient's family had moved into Hampstead.
The second case was an employee at London Airport,
but although extensive enquiries were made the source of
infection was not traced.
The third case, a young girl who had been abroad on
holiday and contracted the illness whilst in Spain or Italy,
was admitted to hospital in Italy and was discharged after two
weeks and returned home. Three days after her return to school,
however, she again became ill and was admitted to hospital
as a relapsed case of typhoid fever.