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children in the house, unless, for example, both parents must continue
their work.
In 1949 nearly 60 per cent. of the cases were admitted to hospital,
63 to the Wandle Valley Isolation Hospital, and the remainder to five or
more other hospitals. While among the families with more than one child,
the percentage of secondary cases following primary cases treated at
home was about double the percentage of secondary and return cases
following cases treated at hospital, the actual numbers of secondary
cases were very small and might well have occurred irrespective of whether
the cases were treated at home or in hospital.
Only one death has occurred in this District from scarlet fever
since 1932, and that in a debilitated adult, and were it not for the tendency
of scarlet fever to change its severity, less emphasis would be given to
the presence and control of this disease.
Erysipelas.
Only 4 cases of erysipelas were notified during the year, this being
4 less than last year.
Puerperal Pyrexia.
Two cases of puerperal pyrexia were notified which is the average
for recent years.
Enteric Fever.
One case was notified as suffering from typhoid fever and died in
hospital, but the postmortem diagnosis was "septicaemia."
Three cases were notified and admitted to hospital as suffering from
paratyphoid fever and the diagnosis was confirmed in 2 of these, one
dying of the disease. Both contracted the disease when abroad.
Dysentery.
The number of notified cases of dysentery at last decreased to pre-war
proportions, with only 14 cases, this being the lowest since 1939. (Last
year there were 71 cases and the average each year since the war has been
94.7.)
All the cases were patients in one or other of the mental hospitals,
and it is pleasing to note the suppression of this disease.
Cerebro-Spinal Fever.
No case of cerebro-spinal fever was notified during 1949, this being
the first free year since 1938.
Poliomyelitis.
By contrast, the incidence of poliomyelitis again increased both
nationally and locally, 9 confirmed cases being notified in this District,
compared with 2 and 11 in the last 2 years and a preceding average of
2. Actually 10 suspected cases were admitted to hospital, where 2 were
not confirmed, while one doubtful case with no paralysis was treated
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