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52
INFLUENZA.
This disease showed some epidemic tendencies during the year, though correct
information as to the number of cases was, of course, unobtainable. The deaths
certified as due to Influenza numbered 35, as against 28 in 1931.
PNEUMONIA.
Figures with regard to notification and information as to methods of prevention,
etc., adopted in relation to this disease will be found on pages 46 and 75.
The services of the nurses were requisitioned in 23 cases and 431 visits were
paid. The number of death's certified as due to all forms of this disease was 77.
FOOD POISONING.
Section 7 of the London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1932, under
which conditions due to food poisoning or suspected to be due to food poisoning
became compulsorily notifiable, came into operation at the end of August.
By the close of the year 17 such cases had been reported but there has since
been a very marked falling-off in the number of notifications received. In 6
instances some form of fish, either fresh or tinned, was the food suspected, whilst
in other cases tinned peaches, tinned soup, meat pie, pork, rabbit, bacon, mushrooms
and tomatoes came under suspicion. In the case of the suspected tinned
soup three persons living together were reported ill and analytical examinations
were made of both the residue in the tin and the excreta of the patients but no
definite conclusions were arrived at. In no case was it necessary to remove the
patients to hospital and all fully recovered within the course of a few days.
TUBERCULOSIS.
In all 163 notifications were received, 140 relating to pulmonary tuberculosis,
the remainder (23) to cases in which structures other than the lungs were affected.
The table given on page 54 contains the information required by the Ministry
of Health with regard to notifications.
From time to time reference is made to the difficulty associated with the
obtaining of notifications sufficiently early, and the following figures are introduced
because they are interesting in this connection. They relate, as will be seen, to
cases in which death had taken place before the fact that the individual was
suffering from the disease had been brought to the notice of the Medical Officer of
Health, as required by the regulations: —
1. Total number of deaths from tuberculosis in the Borough 75
2. The number of cases unnotified or notified at death 26
3. The number of cases notified within a month of death 11
4. The number of cases notified within three months of death 8
5. The number of cases notified within six months of death 5
Treatment of Tuberculosis.—Of the cases notified 214 received some form of
institutional treatment, and during the year every effort was made to obtain admission
to sanatoria of cases deemed suitable for such treatment. Of the total new
cases notified 86 were insured persons; of those 57 were admitted to sanatorium
or hospital treatment, 21 to St. Charles' Hospital and 6 to St. Mary Abbots'
Hospital. Non-insured persons numbered 77, of whom 44 (18 being children)
received sanatorium treatment. Seven were admitted to St. Charles' Hospital and
2 St. Mary Abbots' Hospital. Nurses were sent in to 7 cases and 246 visits were
paid.
Public Health (Prevention of Tuberculosis) Regulations, 1925.—In no case
was it necessary for action to be taken under these regulations, which empower
the Council to call upon a person suffering from tuberculosis engaged in the milk
trade to discontinue such employment.