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78
Pneumonia.
Fifty-nine cases of pneumonia were notified during the year. Ten of these
were influenzal pneumonia. Fifty deaths were recorded from all forms of
pneumonia.
The 49 eases of primary pneumonia wore notified at the following ages:— Under 1 year, 2;
from 1 to 5 years, 7; from 5 to 15 years, 4; from 15 to 25 years, 4; from 25 to 45 years, 12;
from 45 to 65 years, 15; and 65 years and upwards, 5. Twenty were treated at home; 12 were
removed to voluntary hospitals; and 15 to Poor Law Infirmaries. Nine of the patients were
nursed by the Metropolitan Nursing Association under the arrangements made by the Council,
in all 2G6 visits being paid to these patients.
Of the 49 cases of primary pneumonia, 22 resided in tenement lodging houses, 11 in
separate private dwelling houses or model dwellings, 3 in hotels, and 2 in common lodging
houses, 7 in boarding houses, 2 were office caretakers, 1 was homeless and 1 was an office
address only.
The cleanliness of the houses was reported to be satisfactory in 28 cases, but only fairly
so in 10; and in one case as unsatisfactory. The economic conditions of the families concerned
were found to be good in 15 cases, fair in 11, poor in 13; 8 cases were nursed in a separate
room.
In a number of cases the disease was not ascribed to any special cause, but the following
was given in 29 instances:—
Following bronchitis 6
Following cold 14
Following pleurisy 1
Following catarrh 1
Following measles 3
Following exposure to bad weather 2
Chronic Bright's Disease 1
After an accident—fractured ribs 1
Influenza.
There were only 3 deaths from influenza in comparison with 20 in 1927, 8 in
1926, 9 in 1925, and 11 in 1924.
A spirited criticism of the preventive measures advised against influenza
appeared recently in a well-known monthly. There is all the more need for
pursuing research to discover a suitable vaccine which can be used to prevent
influenza; it is satisfactory to learn that investigations in this direction are still
proceeding; research workers should be helped forward in every way possible in
the endeavour to combat this widespread and frequently recurring disease.
Anthrax.
No case of anthrax was notified in the Borough during the year.
Chicken-pox.
During the year information of 81 cases was received from school teachers
and others. Cases of chicken-pox are visited when small-pox is prevalent. In the
past year it was necessary to visit 74 such cases.