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18
REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH FOR 1955
Influenzal Pneumonia and Acute Primary Pneumonia
These are the notifiable forms of pneumonia.
One hundred and twenty-one cases of acute influenzal pneumonia
and 200 cases of acute primary pneumonia were notified. Sixteen
of the former, and 41 of the latter died.
The total number of deaths credited to all forms of pneumonia
during the year was 251, compared with 192 in 1954.
Malaria
Two cases were reported. Both were in children of families
recently arrived in this country from Pakistan.
Erysipelas
Fifty-two cases were notified.
Other Infective Diseases
Twelve deaths occurred from syphilis.
Scabies
Thirty-three cases were notified.
Thirty-eight men were treated at the Council's Disinfecting Station
during the year.
On the resignation of service of the female bathing attendant early
in the year and pending a decision on the question of replacement,
arrangements were made with Battersea Borough Council for women
and children (under school age) requiring treatment for Scabies to be
dealt with at the Battersea Cleansing Station. This arrangement
was still in force at the close of the year.
Food Poisoning
One hundred and seventy-nine formal notifications were received
during the year. One hundred and thirteen were unrelated cases and
22 were minor outbreaks involving two or more persons.
The majority of the single cases were only slightly affected and
where bacteriological investigation was carried out, organisms likely
to have caused the illness were discovered in only 6 cases. The
organism was Salmonella typhimurium.
In 19 of the minor outbreaks it was not possible to identify the
causative agent and in the remaining three, the organism Clostridium
welchii was isolated.
In addition to the above cases, there were four other outbreaks
reported. Three occured in two hospitals in the borough and the
fourth in the canteen of a Public Utility Regional office.