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87
SECTION F.
PREVALENCE OF, AND CONTROL OVER, INFECTIOUS
AND OTHER DISEASES.
1. NOTIFIABLE INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
The statistical tables in regard to notifiable infectious diseases during the
year will be found on pages 88 to 92.
These tables show that there was a considerable falling off in the number of
cases of notifiable diseases in Barking, but contrariwise it should be noted that
last year I reported there had been a considerable amount of notifiable infectious
disease in Barking. The cases of scarlet fever notified declined from 487 to 345,
and the number of cases of diphtheria from 397 to 162. With regard to diphtheria,
I am happy to report that this year there were only 3 deaths due to diphtheria as
against 22 for 1934.
As I have pointed out elsewhere Barking has a relatively high percentage
of young people, which in turns means that there must be a high incidence of the
infectious diseases which arc commonly found amongst young people.
It is obvious from examining the statistical tables that the diphtheria during
the year was of a less virulent type than heretofore.
The number of streptococcal infections, the chief of which are scarlet fever,
sore throat without a rash and puerperal fever, remain about the same as in the
previous year. Your officers are endeavouring to observe the differences between
various forms of streptococcal infection. This work is being carried out at the
pathological laboratory, but it is far too early to be able to make any statement
upon this matter.
With regard to pneumonia, malaria and dysentery, we fortunately had no
cases of malaria or dysentery. Generally speaking the incidence of pneumonia
was less than in the previous year, save in the case of pneumonia following upon
measles, a matter I have written upon elsewhere.
The period of stay of cases of scarlet fever in hospital when the cases are
uncomplicated is kept as short as is possible, save sometimes in the summer, when
in the case of debilitated children it is of definite advantage to keep these children
in for convalescence. There is, however, little possibility of replacing hospital
treatment by nursing and supervision at home, bccause the character of the district
militates against this.