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8
It is the rule to remove every case of scarlet fever or
diphtheria to the Isolation Hospital without delay, and the infected
houses are carefully disinfected. In other infectious
diseases care is taken to isolate or segregate the infected persons,
and all contacts are excluded from schools or public places for the
required period.
Antitoxins are kept at the Council Offices, and can be
obtained by those requiring to use them ; also material for procuring
bacteriological examination of any suspected matter such
as sputum or excretions from throat or nose. No case of typhoid,
typhus, or smallpox was notified.
Scarlet Fever.
There were 59 cases of scarlet fever notified as compared
with 37 last year. Most of the cases were removed to the Isolation
Hospital at Barnet. Most sufferers were in the southern
boundary of the district, and doubtless were infected from proximity
to this area, where there were a great number of cases
occurring during the year.
Several cases were traced to a " carrier." The youngest
child infected was two years, and the oldest patient 42 years.
For the most part the form of the disease was of a mild character,
and there was no death.
Diphtheria.
There were more cases of diphtheria notified than in the
previous year, viz., 22 in 1921, and 17 in 1920. There were two
deaths. Fatal cases of this disease are now fewer than formerly
owing to the use of antitoxin, and if the antitoxin could be
promptly administered there is a reasonable expectation that every
case would recover.
Tuberculosis.
The report on tuberculous disease is the most favourable
one for some years past. At the end of 1920 there were 21 cases
under treatment or observation at the tuberculosis clinic, and at
the end of 1921 there only appear on the list of those receiving
dispensary, domicilary, or sanatorium treatment, 12. Of the 21
cases, 6 died, 2 were cured, and 4 had been removed to hospitals
or sanatoria. Fourteen cases were notified during the year.
Ten of the 14 cases were males and 4 females. All were