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16
TYPHOID FEVER AND CONTINUED FEVER.
Twenty-five cases of typhoid fever were notified in 1928. In a few cases no doubt, the
diagnosis was subsequently revised, but no accurate information is available on this point.
Ten cases of Continued Fever were notified. In any case where the diagnosis of typhoid
fever cannot be made with certainty but there is a strong likelihood of the disease being
present, local doctors are encouraged to obtain early hospital treatment for these cases by
notifying them as having continued fever.
The number of cases of typhoid fever and continued fever is in excess of last year's figures,
the numbers in 1927 having been 16 and 2 respectively. The excess is accounted for by the
occurrence of an outbreak of infection in the west of London, mainly due to paratyphoid B.
fever. This outbreak was found to have principally affected the inhabitants of Kensington
and Fulham, Paddington being one of the boroughs which suffered only in a minor degree.
A great deal of investigation was carried out in order to trace the source of infection, and
an elaborate report has been compiled by the Medical Officer of Health of the London County
Council dealing with the outbreak. Whilst the source of infection cannot be stated
for a certainty there is strong presumptive evidence that it was connected with supplies of
cream which had become contaminated.
MEASLES.
Measles has been notifiable in the Borough since 1914 under various Orders and Regulations,
those at present in operation being "The Metropolitan Borough of Paddington (Measles and
German Measles) Regulations, 1920."
The only other part of London in which all cases of measles are notifiable is the Port of
London. In eight other London Boroughs only the first case of measles occurring in a family
is notifiable.
Sections 60-65, 68-70 and 72 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, were extended to
measles as a dangerous infectious disease throughout the County of London by order made
by the London County Council on April 1st, 1903. The effect of this order is to enable local
authorities to disinfect after measles and to safeguard the public in several ways against
spread of infection.
In addition to the cases medically certified a number of cases come to the knowledge of
the Department through reports from schools, parents, etc.
There were, in 1928, 2,862 cases of measles certified by medical practitioners, and 571
cases reported from other sources, the corresponding figures for 1927 being 154 and 116.
The number of notified cases is analysed in the adjoining table in 4-weekly periods for
the various wards.