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63
Encephalitis Lethargica.
No case of this condition was notified, but one death
of a male is attributed to this cause in the list supplied
by the Registrar-General. Presumably this case was
notified elsewhere and when he died his placc of normal
residence was given as Dagenham.
Pneumonia.
Here again, there has been a reduction in incidence
from 136 to 90. The number of deaths registered as due
to Pneumonia was 63, compared with 100 for 1934.
It is evident that Pneumonia in its notifiable forms,
i.e., Acute Primary and Acute Influenzal, is not fully
notified, except possibly in the more severe types, as
the figures given, if complete, would show a case
mortality of 70 per cent. It is common knowledge that
the mortality from the group of diseases known as
Pneumonia does not approach this high rate. When a
death from Pneumonia is recorded, steps are taken by
my department to ascertain whether the case has been
notified, and the medical practitioner concerned is, in
every instance, requested to furnish us with an explanation
for the omission. It must be borne in mind that
Secondary Pneumonia such as those complicating
epidemic diseases are not notifiable, irrespective of
whether the disease giving rise to the complication is
included in the schedule of such diseases.
Psittacosis.
A letter was received from Poplar on 17/5/35
stating that a female patient aged 26, resident in that
Borough, had been admitted to the London Hospital
on 29/4/35 as a case of suspected Psittacosis. It was
stated that the patient handled budgerigars which were
recently kept in the house. These birds belonged to her