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73
SECTION F.
PREVALENCE OF, AND CONTROL OVER, INFECTIOUS
AND OTHER DISEASES.
1. NOTIFIABLE INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
During 1934 there has been a considerable amount of notifiable infectious
disease in Barking. As I have pointed out previously this may be due to the fact
that large rehousing schemes seem to bring about conditions favourable to the
incidence of infectious disease. It must be remembered that Barking today has
a very high percentage of child population and it is of course amongst these children
that infectious disease is most common. I cannot see any reason for suggesting
that the percentage of children and young people will become smaller and I do believe
that you will always have as one of your serious problems the prevention of diseases
which come during childhood. Having this in your minds you have commenced
the Second Portion of the Barking Hospital which will bring the total number of
beds up to 96, and I hope that it will soon be possible to proceed with one further
cubicle block of 12 beds. My experience during the last few years enables me to
say that 108 beds are certainly required for the work you are called upon to carry out.
Fortunately we have had no cases of smallpox and no cases of cerebro-spinal
fever.
Diphtheria anti-toxin is administered quite early in this disease. This is
largely due to the very cordial relationship which exists between your Medical
Officers and private practitioners. Consultations are held constantly and admissions
to your hospital are expedited in every way.
In your Hospital when the second portion is fully completed, when you will
have 108 beds, there will be no less than 36 beds in separate cubicles. This should
enable the Hospital to be used to a much greater advantage and to cater for a
larger number of infectious diseases than if you had large wards. It will allow you
to treat dual diseases ; this is very necessary in cases of scarlet and rheumatic fever,
a condition which is by no means as uncommon as we should wish it to be. It
should be clearly stated for future reference that the second portion of the Barking
Hospital is not an extension in the ordinary sense of the term but is a partial
completion of the hospital according to plan.