View report page

8
The Death Rate from Pulmonary Tuberculosis during
1944 was 65 per 100,000 population, compared with 38 in 1943
and 40, 55, 43, 21 and 27 in the preceding 5 years. Thus not
only did nearly twice as many contract the disease during 1944
as in the pre-war years, but relatively three times as many died
as in the year war broke out.
The Date Rate from non-Pulmonary Tuberculosis was
only 2 per 100,000 compared with 7, 8, 11, 6 and 9 in the
preceding 5 years.
hile all the methods previously employed in an attempt
to prevent the spread of the disease which are still practicable
were continued throughout the year it is obvious that with the
return to peace it will be most desirable to raise the standard
of life of the nation as soon as possible to pre-war levels.
It is well recognised that good housing, good food and reasonable
conditions of employment are the fundamental essentials to a
reduction in the ravages of this disease, and these must be
achieved as speedily as possible.
NON-NOTIFIABLE INFECTIOUS DISUSE.
The chief sources of information on the prevalence
of the group of non-notifiable infectious diseases are the death
returns and notifications from Head Teachers of the Public
Elementary Schools.
From the former it is noted that 5 deaths from
Influenza occurred, this disease being less prevalent than in
1943, and 2 from diarrhoea in children less than 2 years of age.
From the school returns it would also appear that the incidence
of non-notifiable infectious diseases was low, the most prevalent
being German Measles with a total of 103 notifications chiefly
affecting Kenley and Old Coulsdon from March to June.
There were a very few cases of Mumps, chiefly in
November and December, while Chicken Pox was also mild, the
notifications coming mostly from Purley (22) and Chipstead Valley
(15) between January and April, and Old Coulsdon (17) in November
and December.
Only 2 cases of Infective Jaundice were notified.
OTHER DISEASES.
Diabetes.
Only two cases of diabetes were assisted financially
by the Council to get the insulin which they needed but were
unable to obtain through other agencies under existing
legislation. One of these died during the year. As so very few
cases have been found to need insulin who are not able to obtain
it advantageously through other bodies the Council has decided
to treat more generously those few cases which are discovered
to need assistance in this way.
Scabies.
Until the end of the year the treatment of Scabies
with benzyl benzoate was given at the Coulsdon First Aid Post,
where the Civil Defence staff continued voluntarily to give their
services until the Post was closed. Since then the Council has
employed half-time two ex-members of the Post, assisted by several
part-time volunteers. During 1944 a total of 399 persons were
treated as suffering from or being in contact with the disease, a
total of 905 baths being given. The corresponding figures for
1943 were 326 treated and a total of 1217 baths, while from May
1942, when the Centre was established, until the end of that year
237 cases were treated.
Judged by the above and the number of attendances in
1945 to the time of completing this Report it appears that the
incidence of this disease is diminishing but that there is still a
need for treatment to be provided at a special centre. Consideration
is being given, however, to the possibilities of economically
reducing the service.