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in May, one in June and one in August. There was no relationship
between the cases occurring in May. The cases were all of a mild
character and there were no deaths. The source of infection could
not be traced, although there was a suspicion that in one case
water-cress was the cause.
Smallpox.—One case of smallpox occurred in Ealing during
the year. This was a boy (E.M.) ten years of age, who was admitted
to a Residential School in the district on the 19th May. On the
24th May he began to feel ill with headache and sickness and on
the evening of the 25th May he developed a rash which on the
31st May was diagnosed as smallpox. He was admitted to the
Residential School from another Institution in the County to which
he had been admitted on the 11th April. It would appear, therefore,
that infection occurred while he was in the latter Institution. The
source of infection was not discovered.
Fortunately, when he was admitted to the Residential School
in Ealing he was kept in an Isolation Ward with other children
newly admitted and was particularly isolated when he became ill
on the 24th May. When diagnosed as suffering from smallpox he
was admitted to Hospital. The immediate contacts were vaccinated
and fortunately no further cases occurred.
Encephalitis Lethargica.—One case of encephalitis lethargica
was notified. This was a woman 69 years of age. She subsequently
died, but the diagnosis was not confirmed.
Malaria and Dysentery.—There were two cases of malaria
notified, both of these occurring in men who had been infected
abroad. There were no cases of dysentery.
Primary and Influenzal Pneumonia.—During the year 78
cases of primary pneumonia and 12 cases of influenzal pneumonia
were notified. The numbers of cases of both diseases notified show
a reduction compared with the previous year, when the notifications
totalled, respectively, 100 and 59. The greater proportion of the
cases occurred daring the first Quarter of the year, January to
March, when 48 cases of primary pneumonia and 8 cases of influenzal
pneumonia were notified.