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administration.
ADMINISTRATION.
GENERAL.
Staff of the Department.—Mr. Anthony, a District Sanitary Inspector, retired in February,
1922, owing to ill health, after 26 years' service under the Council. Mr. Binns, who since November,
1921, had carried on the duties in a temporary capacity, was appointed to fill the vacancy in October.
Miss Mann, one of the Health Visitors, resigned her position in July, being replaced by Miss Davies,
appointed in October.
Prevention of Infectious Disease.—(Table XIV.). Visits of inquiry numbered 9,789, as
compared with 6,835 in 1921, the increase being solely due to the high prevalence of measles during
the first half of the year. There were 2,345 visits made in connection with tuberculosis, a considerable
reduction on the annual average for the years 1914-18 (4,157). With the object of avoiding duplication
of visits, the Department does not now undertake any routine visiting of cases notified by the
Tuberculosis Officers, such visiting being left to the Staffs of the two Dispensaries.
Patients receiving treatment in hospital last year numbered 1,354 (excluding cases of tuberculosis),
against 1,397 in 1921, and an annual average of 679 for the years 1916-20. The increase has
been caused by prevalence of scarlet fever, diphtheria and measles, and the inclusion (since 1919) of
the pneumonias, of which diseases hospital statistics were first tabulated in 1919.
Since 1916, the Council has had an Agreement with the Paddington and St. Marylebone District
Nursing Association for the nursing in their homes of patients suffering from measles, whooping
cough, ophthalmia neonatorum and pneumonia. Last year, 129 patients were placed under the
care of the Association by the Department, the cases including 103 of measles, 18 of pneumonia and
4 each of whooping cough and ophthalmia.
Disinfection.—(Table XIV.) Although the rooms disinfected reached the high total of 4,061,
almost doubling the figure for the preceding year, the weight of bedding, etc., removed fell from
51½ to 36 tons, and the cost of disinfection from £2,139 to £1,484. As it is not the practice to remove
bedding after the occurrence of measles, thorough spraying of the room and contents being considered
sufficient, the epidemic of that disease which prevailed last year affected the work of disinfection
only so far as the number of rooms dealt with.
Bacteriological Work.—(Table XIV.) The specimens sent to the Lister Institute for examination
numbered last year 766, as compared with 977 in 1921, and 1,600 in 1920. The annual average for
the years 1912-21 was 874. There has been a notable increase during recent years in the proportion
of specimens from cases of suspected tuberculosis; these, which formed 20.5 per cent. of the total
examinations during the five years 1909-13, equalled 39.4 per cent. of the examinations made last
year.
During 1922 no tests were made for the diagnosis of enteric fever. The proportions of positive
results obtained for diphtheria and tuberculosis were 18.1 per cent. and 17.5 per cent. respectively.
In 1921 the percentages were 14.8 for diphtheria and 17.9 for tuberculosis, and during the quinquennium
1909-13, 20.8 and 21.3.
Schools.—(Tables XIV. and XV.) On this occasion the tables giving the numbers of exclusions
of patients (P.A.) and contacts (P.N.A.) in each School have been omitted. Table XV. shows the
incidence rates in Provided and Non-provided Schools. The only rates showing notable increases last
year—in comparison with the averages for 1914-18 or with the records for any of the years 1919-21—
are those for measles and chickenpox. As regards the former, the rates for Non-provided Schools
were higher than those for Provided, the position being reversed in the case of chickenpox (P.A.).
The disparity between the rates for sore throat in the two groups of schools is remarkable, and the
only explanation which can be offered is that a closer observation for and more complete reporting
of such cases prevails in the Provided Schools. The frequency of scabies and verminous conditions
remains much below the averages for 1914-18.
In addition to the 5,674 "Exclusion Notices" sent during the year direct to the schools in the
Borough, 549 reports relating to infectious disease in schools in out-lying districts were forwarded
to the Medical Officers of Health of those districts.
House Sanitation.—Table XVI. summarises the principal items of the work carried out by the
District Inspectors in connection with premises other than registered tenement houses (houses let
in lodgings), the latter being separately dealt with in the section headed " Tenement Houses." The
record of sanitary works completed shows that more substantial progress is now being made towards
the overtaking of arrears left from the war period.

* By "Economic" or other process.