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26
and when the case is kept at home every endeavour is made to
impress on the patient and family the importance of adhering
strictly to the instructions, and more especially to see that the
window of his room is always kept open. The cases are also visited
periodically, and should any insanitary conditions be found to exist,
their removal is at once seen to.
The number of houses and rooms disinfected for this complaint
during the year was 63, and the articles—clothing, bedding, etc.—
dealt with numbered 471.
NON-NOTIFIABLE INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
Measles.
This disease became prevalent in Enfield, in common with most
districts in North London, in the latter part of the year, when it
first made its appearance on the Western side, and afterwards
shewed itself on the Eastern side, especially in the Ponders End
Ward.
I have no means of knowing the number of cases that
occurred, but evidently the epidemic was of a very mild type, as
only 14 deaths were registered during the year.
I was in communication with Dr. Boyd, the School Medical
Officer, in regard to the schools affected, with the result that the
St. Michael's Infants' School was closed for two weeks, with
satisfactory results.
In accordance with a suggestion of the Local Government
Board an arrangement was made between the Council and Education
Committee, under which the Head-teachers of the various
schools notified to the Medical Officer of Health all absentees
suspected to be suffering from any infectious disease. This arrangement
came into force on the 1st of January, and by this means we
became aware of many cases of Measles, which would otherwise
have escaped us. We were thus able to visit the houses, and give
instructions as to the precautions necessary to be taken. These
cases were all reported to the School Medical Officer.
Four Schools were also disinfected with Formalin.
Enteritis.
Owing, no doubt, to the wet and unpleasant Summer we experienced
during 1912, the deaths from this disease were almost
negligible. I cannot, however, shut my eyes to the fact that we are
open to an epidemic at any time the climatological conditions are
favourable to one.
I would again venture to urge the Council to take into serious
consideration the suggestion 1 made in a special report on
Enteritis in February last year, that is the adoption of the Notification
of Births Act, an Act which has now been adopted by a