Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for East Barnet]
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5
Prevalence of, and Control over, Infectious Diseases.
With the exception of Mumps, all cases of infectious disease
are now notifiable in the area, and particulars of those cases notified
are given in Table 1.
With regard to Diphtheria, every facility for prompt diagnosis
and treatment is placed at the disposal of local doctors, swabs for
examinations of throat, etc., and a supply of antitoxin are kept in
readiness at the Town Hall. In addition, the Council has now
given facilities for the supply of immunising serum.
Similar facilities for bacteriological diagnosis are available in
cases of Tuberculosis and other Infectious Diseases and full advantage
is taken of them.
In all infectious cases where patients are removed to isolation
or special hospitals, the patient's home is visited and disinfection
thoroughly carried out.
Smallpox.
No cases of this disease were notified during the year.
Tuberculosis.
A table is given showing new cases and mortality during 1945.
Whenever possible, all cases of Pulmonary Tuberculosis likely
to benefit are sent to the County Sanatorium at Ware. In every
case thorough disinfection of the premises, etc., is carried out as
soon as the patient has been removed.
TABLE I.
Notifications of Infectious Disease (other than Tuberculosis) received during the year 1945.
DISEASE. | Total Cases Notified. | Under 1 year. | 1—2 years. | 2—4 years. | 5—10 years. | 15—20 years | 35—45 years. | 65 and over. | Cases admitted to Hospital. | Total Deaths. | Average for 5 years, 1940—1944. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Diphtheria | 1 | ...... | ...... | ...... | 1 | ...... | ...... | ...... | 1 | ...... | 6 |
Scarlet Fever | 123 | ...... | 8 | 23 | 75 | 7 | 10 | ...... | 96 | ...... | 68 |
Chicken Pox | 70 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 37 | 2 | ...... | ...... | ...... | 105 | |
Whooping Cough | 59 | 4 | 13 | 16 | 26 | ...... | ...... | ...... | ...... | ...... | 145 |
Measles | 409 | 12 | 66 | 76 | 237 | 16 | 2 | ...... | ...... | ...... | 398 |
Pneumonia | 36 | 5 | ...... | ...... | 8 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 0 | ...... | 20 |
Para Typhoid | 1 | ...... | ...... | ...... | ...... | 1 | ...... | ...... | 1 | ...... | 1 |
Erysipelas | 8 | ...... | ...... | ...... | ...... | ...... | 5 | 3 | ...... | ...... | 10 |
Puerperal Pyrexia | 1 | ...... | ...... | ...... | ...... | ...... | 1 | ...... | ...... | ...... | 2 |
Total | 708 | 22 | 89 | 121 | 384 | 53 | 29 | 10 | 100 | — | 755 |