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In No. 99 of the Special Report series of the Medical Research Council, Dr.
Matthew Young and Mr. W. T. Russell discuss the incidence of Cancer in relation
to various trades and professions.
Anthrax.
During 1925, seven cases of anthrax occurred in London, of which two died.
The infection was attributable in five instances to the handling of foreign hides and,
in one case, to wool derived from the East. The remaining case was ascribed to
the use of an infected shaving brush.
Plague and
Cholera.
No cases of plague or cholera occurred in London during 1925.
Typhus fever
No cases of typhus fever occurred in London during the year.
Cerebrospinal
fever.
Of the 95 cases notified during 1925, 23 were not regarded as genuine cases ;
on the other hand 21 cases were recorded (mainly through the Registrar-General's
death returns) which were not notified under the Public Health (London) Act 1891.
The actual number of cases therefore was 93, of which 76 (82 per cent.) proved fatal,
as compared with a mortality of 79 per cent. the previous year.
Poliomyelitis,
and polioencephalitis.
During 1925, 55 cases of this disease were notified, and of these 7 were not
regarded as genuine cases. There were 7 deaths. Reference was made in last
year's annual report to the arrangements made for the London County Council
and the Metropolitan Asylums Board to co-operate in securing treatment of London
children suffering from poliomyelitis. Full provision is now made at Queen Mary's
Hospital, Carshalton, for the treatment not only of cases entering upon the second
stage of the disease (deemed for this purpose to be three months after onset), but
also of those requiring correctional operations for resulting deformities. At present,
50 beds are placed at the disposal of the Council. The usual procedure is for cases
to be submitted to the Council through the medical officers of health of the metropolitan
borough councils. Cases considered suitable are referred to the Metropolitan
Asylums Board, who allot a bed at Carshalton. The cost of treatment is
borne by the Metropolitan Asylums Board, but certain cases are assessed
and the amount collected as contributions, less a small charge for the expenses
incurred in collection, is handed over to the Board to help to defray the cost
of treatment.
This arrangement has been in force since September, 1924. Up to 31st December,
1925, 40 cases had been sent to Carshalton for treatment.
Encephalitis
le hargica.
A comprehensive report on encephalitis lethargica is contained on page 106
of the report of the school medical officer for the year under review, so that,
apart from presenting the following statistical information concerning notified
cases during 1925, it is not proposed to add here any further remarks on the
subject.
The number of cases of the disease notified during 1925 was 304, representing
a considerable reduction upon the figures for the previous year, viz., 605. In 54
cases the diagnosis was revised, thus reducing the number to 250, of which 102 (40
per cent.) proved fatal, as compared with a fatality rate of 22 per cent. in 1924
and 45.9 per cent. in 1923. It will thus be apparent that the mortality rate is subject
to considerable variation. Every case is closely followed up and it has been arranged
with the medical officers of health of the metropolitan boroughs not only to furnish
the Council with detailed particulars on a special card of all cases in the acute stage,
but also to follow up cases among persons of non-school ages at least every six
months for the purpose of obtaining progress reports; the subsequent domiciliary
enquiries into cases occurring among children attending the Council's schools are
undertaken by the school care committees. In this way a considerable amount
of valuable information is accumulated. The following tables will be of interest
as showing (1) the age incidence of actual cases and (2) the yearly prevalence of
the three kindred diseases, cerebro-spinal fever, poliomyelitis (including polioencephalitis)
and encephalitis lethargica.
13651 c