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Diphtheria was more prevalent in Westminster than had been the
case for many years previously. There were 290 notifications and in
addition there were 61 cases in Crown buildings (military and other).
The importance of examining other children in schools was well
exemplified in several instances. Children were found who were
"carriers" of the infection in their throats and these apparently were
sources of infection for a succession of cases. So soon as they were
detected and isolated the outbreaks ceased.
Puerperal Fever.—Nine cases were notified. Three deaths were
ascribed to this cause, and there were 6 deaths which occurred from
other causes after confinement. Investigation showed that in a number
of these cases death was due to serious illness pre-existing, such as
phthisis or pneumonia, and properly the death should be ascribed
thereto rather than to childbirth.
Typhoid Fever.—Notwithstanding the return of persons from infected
areas abroad, only 14 cases of this disease were notified in
Westminster. With two exceptions the disease was contracted elsewhere.
One patient was infected while nursing another; one man, a
butcher, is reported to have suffered from typhoid fever in 1904.
Ophthalmia Neonatorum.—Seventeen infants were notified as
suffering from this complaint and 8 other cases were discovered by the
visitors. Ten children were treated at hospitals, 7 as in-patients.
Twenty-two were reported to have recovered without permanent impairment
of vision. Tn two cases the sight of one eye was lost. One
infant died before the eyes were better.
In each instance the Health Visitor has visited at the house daily,
or less frequently as the circumstances demanded, and has taken steps
to see that proper medical and nursing attention was secured for the
child. The Inspectors of the County Council under the Midwives' Act
have co-operated by calling attention to cases which come under their
observation.
Plague, Cholera, &c.—Notifications were received from Port
Sanitary Authorities of 275 persons coming to Westminster from
districts affected with plague, cholera, smallpox, typhus and typhoid
fevers and dysentery. The majority of these people came from Servia,
Roumania, Bulgaria and Turkey. They were kept under observation.
There were, besides, GO Belgian refugees who came to Westminster
after having had, possibly, exposure to smallpox infection. A few who
had not been revaccinated recently were revaccinated at once, and no
cases of smallpox occurred.