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1918
12
even if it were possible to obtain private nurses it is doubtful
if these would be available for the majority of the inhabitants.
One doctor stated that the Deed was not so much of trained
nurses, but of women who could visit the homes, clean up the
house and sick rooms, make bids ard prepare food. In a
large number of instances trained nursing was not absolutely
essential. An instance was given of the difficulties met with.
This doctor called in a certain house where 4 families lived.
These families consisted of 14 members, and all the persons
in the house were down with Influenza at the same time.
Possibly, it would have been impossible to obtain skilled
nursing for every case in the last epidemic, but much suffering
would have been prevented if domestic helps working under
a trained nurse had been available.
Institutional treatment also waj entirely insufficient iu
this district, but it- is doubtful if it would be possible to arrange
for the institutional treatment of all those who require it in
epidemics of an explosive character like Influenza. A selection
of the cases could be made and early cases removed to hospital,
especially where isolation of the patient could not be carried
out in the home.
INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
674 cases of Infectious Diseases weie notified, but of
these 417 were cases of Measles and German Measles and 149
Tuberculosis cases.
ENTERIC FEVER.
Only three cases were notified, but everyone proved fatal.
In every instance, probably, the disease was contracted outside
the district.
SCARLET FEVER.
In no year since the introduction of the notification of
Infectious Diseases Notification Act, has the number of cases
of Scarltt Fever notified been so low, and for the second
successive year no death was recorded. The continued low
incidence of Scarlet Fever throughout the country is encouraging,
though an explanation is not readily forthcoming.