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20 REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH FOR 1957
Malaria
Two cases were reported. Both were recurrent cases.
Erysipelas
Forty-three cases were notified.
Other Infective Diseases
Sixteen deaths occurred from syphilis.
Scabies
Twenty notifications were received.
The arrangement made in 1955 with the Battersea Borough
Council whereby the cleansing of women residents (and children
under school age) of Wandsworth was undertaken by the Battersea
Cleansing Station, continued to operate during 1957. A fee of 5s.0d.
per treatment is paid by Wandsworth to Battersea for this service.
A total of 102 treatments was given during the year at the Battersea
Cleansing Station.
At the Council's Disinfecting Station, 45 treatments were given.
Food Poisoning
Two hundred and sixty-four formal notifications were received
during the year. One hundred and seventy-five were unrelated cases
and 24 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 22 cases. The
organisms were Salmonella typhimurium, heidelberg, newport,
thompson and anatum.
In 22 of the minor outbreaks it was not possible to identify the
causative agent and in the remaining two, Salmonella typhimurium
and Salmonella newport were respectively isolated.
In addition to the above cases, an outbreak involving 315 persons
occurred at an institution in the borough. From bacteriological
investigation of stools from a number of those affected it appeared
that the outbreak was due to heat resistant Clostridium welchii. A
full report on this outbreak was submitted to the Ministry of Health
in accordance with Circular 46/49 and revised memorandum
188/Med.