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25
WATER
Section 95, Public Health (London) Act, 1936
The number of new dwellings for which applications were
received for certificates that a proper and sufficient supply of
water had been installed was 317 (649) Borough Council 192,
others 125.
The water supply for the area is provided almost entirely by
the Metropolitan Water Board, but there are a few deep wells of
which some supply water for purposes other than human consumption,
while in a few cases the supply is used for potable purposes
both for drinking on the premises as well as for the manufacture
of beverages and for similar trade purposes. In these latter
cases a comprehensive examination of the supply both bacterio
logical as well as chemical is made every three months at least,
which is deemed sufficient for ample warning of any serious
changes to be observed before there is danger to health.
PREVALENCE OP AND CONTROL OVER INFECTIOUS
AND OTHER DISEASES
The mortality from infectious disease was again almost neglible
scarlet fever 0, diptheria 0, measles 1, and whooping cough 3.
Although immunisation against whooping cough is by no means
certain, even with the best prophylactics now in use because it
is at present a more dangerous disease than diptheria it is no
doubt expedient to satisfy the demand for immunisation against
both diseases. If not there is a possibility that immunisation
against diptheria may be less diligently sought.
Poliomyelitis
Although 12 notifications were received only 11 were
confirmed cases of poliomyelitis, the rate per 1 000 population
being 0.05. Six of them were non paralytic and there were no
deaths, In no instance was it possible to trace any contact with
another case.
Puerperal pyrexia
Of the 51 cases followed up, 43 had attended an ante-natal
clinic, while 6 who did not had abortions or miscarriages. 29
were primiparae, 20 multiparae and the parity of the other 2 has
not been ascertained. The cause of the pyrexia was unknown in
13 cases, but 9 were due to mastitis, 5 each to caesarean and
instrumental delivery, 2 each to prematurity, retained placenta,
sepsis and stillbirth with macerated foetus, one each to breech
delivery, twin pregnancy, ruptured perineum, post-partum
haemorrhage, and pleurisy.