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at the time of death suffering from a respiratory infection in addition to the enteritis.
It is reasonable to suppose that the fog was responsible for the majority of the December
deaths, and that if it had not been for the fog there would have been a continuation of
the remarkable decline in the enteritis death-rate which has continued since the end of
the war. Whereas before the war the enteritis death-rate in London was constantly"
higher than the rate for England and Wales, since the war it has been well below the
national level. Many possible causes can be put forward for this decline, and all may
have played a part. The use of national dried milk in infants' feeds, health education,
particularly on the preparation of feeds, better treatment of the disease, and improved
social conditions, have all been important factors, but there are reasons for believing
that the incidence of the disease is also lower now than formerly.
DIARRHCEA AND ENTERITIS (UNDER TWO YEARS)
MORTALITY PER 1,000 LIVE BIRTHS
Enteric
fevers
Typhoid and paratyphoid fevers were at a low level, only 25 notifications being
recorded. Outbreaks due to infected water or food were completely absent. Such
cases as occurred were the result of contact with unrecognised carriers in the population.
There is little doubt that this disease could be virtually eradicated if it were possible to
detect and neutralise all carriers. Two methods of achieving this are the energetic
search for the source of infection in all cases, and careful bacteriological examination of
all those recovering from the disease to bring to light the convalescent carrier.
Erysipelas
There were 467 notifications of erysipelas in 1952, giving an attack rate of 0.139
per 1,000, compared with 0.148 in 1951. The incidence of this disease has been declining
continuously since 1941. There was one death in 1952.