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Chemical and Bacteriological Examinations of Food.
The only examinations carried out by the Council are those for
designated milks. The matter has been discussed previously.
PREVALENCE OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE.
Measles and Whooping Cough.
These diseases were made compulsorily notifiable in October,
1939. 938 cases of Measles and 169 cases of Whooping Cough were
notified during the year. There were no deaths from Measles and
one from Whooping Cough.
Diphtheria.
Only one case was notified during the year ; one case was
notified in 1948. There were no deaths:
Scarlet Fever.
Continued to occur throughout the year in a mild form, but
during the last few weeks of the year there was a sharp rise in the
incidence of this disease. There were 188 cases compared with
128 in 1948 ; there were no deaths.
In October, I was informed by the Medical Superintendent,
South Lodge Hospital, that the number of Scarlet Fever cases for
admission to this hospital would have to be restricted owing to
insufficient nursing staff, and that the cases would have to be
discharged much earlier than has been the practice heretofore and.
further, that only 35 beds would be available for this disease in'
the hospital.
I was greatly disturbed at the receipt of this information, as
this could raise very difficult circumstances in an area such as
Edmonton, where it is almost impossible to isolate effectively an
infectious disease case in more than half the houses in the Borough.
A meeting was held between the Medical Superintendent,
myself and the Medical Officers of Health of Enfield and Southgate,
when it was agreed we would do everything to help during
the nursing crisis to keep mild cases of Scarlet Fever at home
where isolation was possible and where the economic circumstances
of the families would not interfere and that, as soon as the
crisis ceased, we would revert to our normal procedure.
I circularised the Medical Practitioners in the Borough,
explaining the situation at the hospital and asking the doctors to
co-operate as far as possible without interfering with the wellbeing
and safety of the patients, and laid down four postulates:
(1) Can the patient be efficiently isolated in a separate room.
(2) Are proper facilities for simple nursing and attention
available at home, e.g., are both parents out at work and
no other person available to stay in the home.
(3) Is the case sufficiently severe to warrant admission to
hospital, or developed complications during the course
of the illness.
(4) The economic circumstances of the family may be such
as to compel the removal of the patient to hospital.
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