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40
Influenza.
This disease was rather more prevalent than in 1935, though correct information
as to the number of cases was, of course, unobtainable. The district nurses
paid 203 visits to 19 cases. The deaths certified as due to Influenza numbered
14 as against 9 in the previous year.
Pneumonia.
Figures with regard to notification, etc., in relation to this disease will be
found on pages 36 and 67.
The services of the nurses were requisitioned in 27 cases and 493 visits were
paid. The number of deaths certified as due to all forms of this disease was 72.
Food Poisoning.
Only four notifications of food-poisoning or suspected food-poisoning were
received under Section 7 of the London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1932.
Enquiries were made into each case. Sausages, fish and pork pies each came
under suspicion, but no definite evidence as to the responsibility of these articles
was obtainable. In one case the patient was treated in hospital. All quickly
recovered.
TUBERCULOSIS.
In all, 130 notifications were received, 107 relating to pulmonary tuberculosis,
the remainder (23) to cases in which structures other than the lungs were affected.
The table given on page 41 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, in, some instances,
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 70
2. The number of cases unnotified or notified at death 19
3. The number of cases notified within a month of death 4
4. The number of cases notified within three months of death 4
5. The number of cases notified within six months of death 3
Treatment of Tuberculosis.—Of the cases notified, 283 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 78 were insured persons and were admitted and re-admitted from time
to time during the year to sanatoria and hospitals for treatment, the total admissions
numbering 108. Non-insured persons numbered 52, the total admissions for
these patients being 57, including 13 children. Nurses were sent in to 12 cases
and 215 home visits were paid.
Non-Pulmonary Tuberculosis.—Thirteen of the total notifications—23 as
against 19 in 1935—in the case of this form of tuberculosis came from institutions
where the patients were undergoing treatment. Visits were paid to the homes
and, where necessary, advice with regard to the obtaining of treatment was
offered.
Particulars as to the parts affected by the disease will be found in the table
on page 47.