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36
INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
i.—Notifiable Diseases.
Under the Compulsory Notification Clauses of the Public Health
(London) Act, 1891, and the Orders and Regulations made thereunder,
4,285 cases of infectious diseases (excluding tuberculosis) were reported,
including encephalitis lethargica acuta 17, malaria 8, acute primary
pneumonia 159, acute influenzal pneumonia 87, cerebro-spinal fever 3*,
poliomyelitis acuta 6†, ophthalmia neonatorum 36, measles 798, and
German measles 1,111. These 4,285 cases occurred in 3,904 infected
houses, and, of the 4,285 cases, 2,095, i.e., 48.9 per cent., were removed
to hospital, and 2,190, i.e., 51.1 per cent., remained under treatment in
their homes. If the recently-added notifiable diseases be excluded so
as to make the 1925 figures strictly comparable with those for previous
years, the percentage of ordinary infectious diseases cases removed to
hospital during 1925 was 92.86, as compared with 91.9 the previous
quinquennium 1920-24, and 85.0, 82.8, 82.8, 67.9, 54.7, and 31.5 for
the six quinquennia 1916-20, 1911-15, 1906-10, 1901-5, 1896-1900 and
1891-5, respectively, i.e., since the compulsory notification of infectious
diseases came into force under the Public Health (London)
Act, 1891—a satisfactory record.
Full statistics of all the compulsorily notifiable infectious diseases
are to be found in tabular form.
Smallpox.
Two cases ‡ of smallpox were notified officially and the usual precautionary
measures were taken. In addition, many smallpox "contacts"
(in connection with cases outside the Borough) have been reported and
quarantined during the usual incubation period of the disease (14
days). Fortunately, no further cases resulted. Several suspected
cases of smallpox were also reported, but, on being visited by the
Medical Officer of Health, were found not to be suffering from
the disease suspected. The official history of smallpox in Lambeth is
interesting epidemiologically, and, in connection therewith, the
following statistics are placed on record for future reference, dealing
with deaths registered and cases notified under the Notification of
Infectious Diseases Act, for the last half-century:—
*Including i case of post-basic meningitis.
†lncluding 4 cases of polio-encephalitis acuta.
‡Father and daughter, the latter infecting the fo.mer. Source of daughter's
infection was not traced.