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20
Diseases Authority for Notification
Relapsing Fever Public Health (London) Act, 1936—Sections 192 and 304.
Scabies County of London (Scabies) Regulations, 1943.
Scarlet Fever Public Health (London) Act, 1936—Sections 192 and 304.
Smallpox Do.
Tuberculosis Public Health (Tuberculosis) Regulations, 1952.
Typhoid Fever Public Health (London) Act, 1936—Sections 192 and 304.
(Including Paratyphoid)
Typhus Fever Do.
Whooping Cough County of London (Measles and Whooping Cough)
Regulations, 1938 to 1948.
For each of the above a fee of 2/6d. is payable by the Local Authority to the medical
practitioner if the case occurs in his private practice, or 1/- if the case occurs in his practice
as medical officer of a public body or institution.
Notifications
During the year 184 cases of infectious disease were notified, of which 73 were removed
to hospital. These are tabulated in the age groups (see Table No. 6, page 22). Comparative
figures of infectious disease for the years 1928-1957 are also shown (see Table No. 7,
pages 24 and 25).
Diphtheria
It is very gratifying to report that for the seventh year in succession no case of diphtheria
was notified.
Dysentery
Sixteen cases were notified and four were removed to hospital.
Enteric Fever
Four cases of typhoid fever were notified all of which were removed to hospital.
Following notification of one of the above cases, arrangements were made for
specimens from the patient's wife and two adult children to be examined. Salmonella
typhi were found in the wife's specimens and she too was removed to hospital for treatment.
While in hospital it was learned that she had suffered from typhoid fever while abroad
about 20 years ago, and, it is reasonable to assume that she had since remained in a carrier
state. It says much for the family's standard of personal hygiene that the husband or
children had not previously been infected. The wife's condition did not respond to
treatment and she was discharged from hospital as an intermittent faecal excreter of
typhi bacilli.
Prior to admission to hospital she had worked as a food handler, and in consequence,
upon her discharge from hospital, notice under the Public Health (Infectious Disease)
Regulations, 1953, was served on her to refrain from engaging in any occupation connected
with the preparation or handling of food.
The family's housing conditions necessitated the sharing of sanitary accommodation
with other families, and in view of the risk involved arrangements were made for the
family to be rehoused. The other members of the family were given T.A.B. inoculations.
Erysipelas
No cases were notified during the year.
Food Poisoning
Two cases were notified and were removed to hospital. In one case the food suspected
was omelette and pork sandwich, but bacteriological examination failed to trace any
pathogenic organisms. In the other case the patient was not resident in Holborn.