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It is suggested that the Borough Council should remind medical
practitioners residing within their area of the importance of early diagnosis,
and a note, prepared by the Ministry, setting out the usual symptoms
of the disease is enclosed with the circular, copies of which it is considered
might usefully be circulated to practitioners for information.
The City Council directed that copies of the note prepared by the
Ministry be obtained and circulated amongst medical practitioners in the
City of Westminster, and that such steps as may be possible be taken
through the Council's Maternity and Child Welfare Centres to give effect
to the wishes of the Ministry in the matter.
Encephalitis Lethargica.—Fifteen cases occurred, with 6 deaths.
In each of the two previous years 2 cases were recorded. Eight of the
cases were in persons between 17 and 23 years of age, 4 at older ages
(one of these, in a man of 62 who died, was a very doubtful case), 3 were
in children under 10. Ten were treated in hospital.
Chickenpox was less prevalent during the year, 89 cases being
notified chiefly from schools.
Mumps.—147 cases were recorded. In 1921, there were 263 ; in
1922, 25 ; in 1923, 95 cases.
Puerperal Fever and Ophthalmia Neonatorum.—See above,
under Maternity and Child Welfare.
Anthrax.—A man cut his face while shaving and developed Anthrax,
from which he died. The shaving brush, a cheap one, he had bought
for 4\d. was submitted to the Bacteriologist, Dr. Braxton Hicks, who
reported that he had been unable to identify the presence of the bacillus
in it. Probably only one hair at the socket end had a few spores on it,
which were liberated on use and the rest of the brush was unaffected.
The consignment was traced and found to be one of a consignment of
over 12,000 brushes, mixed types, said to have come from Army stores.
The retailer had only one brush of the type remaining in stock and this was
also examined bacteriologically and was found unaffected. In consequence
of a number of cases of infection due to the use of infected brushes
of Japanese origin, the Ministry of Health, by an Order in Council in
February, 1920, prohibited the further importation of such brushes into
this country, and a large number were collected from dealers therein and
destroyed. Since when, cases arising from this cause had ceased.
Plague, &c.—Intimation was received of 2 persons coming into
Westminster from places where plague had occurred, 167 smallpox contacts
and 21 enteric fever contacts.