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13
Pneumonia.
There were 164 cases of Primary Pneumonia and 10 cases of
Influenzal Pneumonia, 89 patients died from the former and 2
from the latter.
Malaria.
No case of malaria occurred.
Dysentery.
Of the 23 cases of Dysentery recorded, 22 were of the Sonne
type and of these 14 occurred in an outbreak at a day nursery.
Exhaustive laboratory investigations failed to trace the origin of
the outbreak.
Erysipelas.
Only 12 cases of Erysipelas occurred compared with an average
of 33 over the past eleven years. The universal use of sulphonamides
and antibiotics undoubtedly accounts for this fall in incidence.
Food Poisoning.
Notifications for 21 cases of Food Poisoning were received.
In 3 of these cases the causative agent was identified but in
no cases was the source of infection traced.
It is certain that a larger number of cases occur than are
notified. Some with symptoms such as diarrhoea and vomiting
clear up rapidly and are not seen by a doctor, and others which
are seen by a doctor soon respond to treatment and are not identified
as cases of food poisoning.
Food poisoning and its prevention are becoming increasingly
important problems in Public Health practice. Owing to the
increase in communal feeding and consumption of prepared foods,
the risk of mass infection is greater than ever before.
Measles.
During the year 1,450 cases of measles were notified, 71 more
than in the previous year.
Whooping Cough.
This is the most serious and one of the most distressing of
children's maladies and efforts are being made to popularise
immunisation against it. It is too soon to expect any statistically
significant lowering of the notification figures. Nevertheless in
1949 there were 303 cases, 80 less than the previous year. It has
been repeatedly demonstrated that when immunisation does not
prevent the onset of whooping cough it at least materially modifies
its severity and usually prevents the dreaded complications.