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56
ENCEPHALITIS LETHIARGICA.
This is commonly termed "Sleepy Sickness;" but it is quite a different disease to the
tropical illness known as " Sleeping Sickness." The popular term is therefore an unfortunate
one, and tends to confuse the two diseases. Forty-five cases were notified during the year;
but on further investigation six of these were found to have been incorrectly diagnosed. Two
recovered cases were discovered which had not been notified. The corrected number of cases
was therefore forty-one.
Thirteen deaths were registered during the year as being due to this disease. Two of
these were of cases notified in 1920, and the patients had been chronic invalids during these
four years. Another case had improved for a time, moved to an adjoining Borough and died
here. This death, though not registered in St. Pancras, is included for calculating case
mortality. One fatal case included in the above had not been notified, but the notification has
since been received. Another case notified late in 1924 died early in 1925, this death will not
appear in the death returns until next year, but is included for calculating case mortality.
Up to the present time, therefore, of the 41 cases which occurred during the year, 13
have proved fatal, which equals a case mortality of 31.7 per cent.
This disease is becoming a very serious problem. It is markedly increasing in prevalence,
it is accompanied by a high death-rate, and, what is even more serious, many of those
who recover, suffer from physical weakness or mental or moral degeneration, and these very
distressing after effects may gradually develop long after apparent recovery. Inquiries have
recently been made concerning the 29 cases which recovered last year, and their present
condition is as follows:12 are quite well, 9 still complain of either headaches, eye trouble,
etc., 1 has left the Borough, and 7 are mentally defective.
PNEUMONIA.
During the year, 293 cases of acute primary pneumonia, and 131 of acute influenzal
pneumonia, were notified.
Pneumonia, in various forms, is a frequent complication of other diseases; but when
occurring in this way is not notifiable.
All notified cases are visited, and, if requested by the Medical Attendant, a nurse is
supplied to necessitous cases, the cost being defrayed by the Borough Council.
During the year, 152 cases were undertaken at the Council's expense, 2358 nursing
visits being paid.
Of the 293 cases of acute primary pneumonia, 147 were treated in their own homes
and 146 in hospitals. Of the hospital cases, 94 were admitted to the St. Pancras Hospital
(Poor Law) and 52 to voluntary hospitals.
With regard to the 131 cases of acute influenzal pneumonia, 85 were treated at home
and 46 were admitted to hospitals. Of the hospital cases, 25 were treated in the St. Pancras
Hospital and 21 in voluntary hospitals.
With regard to deaths from pneumonia, the following were registered during the year:
112 attributed to broncho-pneumonia, 50 to lobar-pneumonia, and 38 to pneumonia, type not
stated.
MEASLES AND GERMAN MEASLES.
These diseases are compulsorily notifiable in St. Pancras under the Metropolitan
Boroughs of Lambeth and St. Pancras (Measles and German Measles) Regulations, 1920. All