View report page

49
scarlet Fever.
That there is a liability for scarlet fever to show epidemic tendencies at
intervals of five years, more or less, is well known. This year, however, only 192
notifications of this disease were received, the highest number of cases reported in
any one week being 10. There were no deaths from scarlet fever during 1932.
The districts to suffer most from this disease were All Souls and Christ Church.
In the former there were 81 cases and in the latter 46. In St. Mary there were 40
and in St. John 25.
As usual, the majority of the patients were children of school age, the age
group, 5—15, giving over one-half (109) of the total. Of the remainder 53 were
aged between 1 and 5 years, and 30 over 15 years of age.
Though it seemed probable that many of the children notified acquired their
infection in school, it was only in 21 instances that a definite connection could be
made out.
Defects in sanitation to the number of 12 were discovered. All these were
want of cleanliness, etc. The nuisances were remedied after the service of notice
in each case.
Enteric Fever and Paratyphoid Fever.
The notifications of Enteric Fever numbered 3. There were no deaths. Of
Paratyphoid Fever there were 4 cases. All the patients recovered. In none of
the cases was any information obtainable indicating that the source of infection
arose within the Borough.
Cerebro-Spinal Fever.
Two cases of this disease were notified during the year.
Encephalitis Lethargica.
There were no cases of this disease notified.
Polio-Encephalitis.
No cases of this disease were notified.
Polio-Myelitis.
There was 1 case of this disease notified during the year.
Erysipelas.
The notifications of erysipelas numbered 55, and there were no deaths. Most
of the cases were notified from the St. Charles' Hospital and the General Hospitals,
and 31 patients were treated in one or other of these institutions.
Puerperal Fever and Puerperal Pyrexia.
The number of cases of Puerperal Fever notified, viz., 5, was below the
average of the last few years. Two of the patients died. Particulars of these
cases are given under the heading Maternal Mortality.
In each case a visit was paid by one of the Health Visitors and assistance and
advice as was suitable and possible offered.