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23
EXAMINATION FOR PATHOGENIC BACTERIA.
Any medical practitioner desiring examination of specimens for Pathogenic
Bacteria in cases of suspected infectious disease occurring amongst their patients
residing in the City, should forward them to me at the Guildhall. Arrangements have
been made for free examination, and the results obtained will be communicated as
speedily as possible.
During the year the following specimens were so dealt with. It will be seen that
positive results were obtained in 37 per cent, of these cases.
Result—
Specimen Disease suspected. Positive. Negative.
Two of Sputum - - Phthisis 1 1
Five of blood - - Enteric Fever 2 3
One throat swab - - Diphtheria — 1
NOTIFICATION OF CEREBRO SPINAL FEVER.
(Epidemic Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis.)
As a preventive measure against the spread of the above-mentioned disease, which
is still in evidence in London, the County Council have, in accordance with the
provisions of Section 56 of the Public Health (London) Act 1891, made an Order
requiring for a further period of twelve months as from and including the 13th March,
1911, the notification of cases of Cerebro-Spinal Fever (Epidemic Cerebro-Spinal
Meningitis) in the Administrative County of London.
On the advice of a Committee appointed by the President of the Royal College of
Physicians, it has been decided that for notification purposes the disease at present
known as Posterior Basal Meningitis shall be included in the terms " Cerebral-Spinal
Fever," which term shall not, however, be interpreted to include cases of Meningitis due
to Tuberculosis, Syphilis, Middle Ear disease or injury.
Cerebro-Spinal Fever was first made notifiable in London by order of the Local
Government Board for a period of six months as from 12th March, 1907, and has been
extended by renewed Orders from year to year, the provisions of notification being in
continual operation since 1907.
Only one case, a child aged 2½ years, has occurred in the City since the disease
was made notifiable.
NOTIFICATION OF CHICKEN-POX.
Owing to the increase in cases of Small-pox (referred to on page 24) and the
fact that failure to distinguish between Chicken-pox and Small-pox is likely to lead to
the spread of the latter disease, the London County Council, on the 16th March last,
made an Order, under Section 56 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, requiring
the notification of Chicken-pox for a period of three months only as from and including
the 22nd March, 1911.