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21
Infectious Diseases and the Measures taken to Prevent
their Spread.
It will be seen from Table B that 265 notification certificates
of Infectious Disease were received from medical practitioners,
as against 159 in the preceding year, and 189
in 1902.
The Infectious Sickness Rate of the District was 10.3 to
each 1,000 of the population, as against 6.6 in 1903, and 8.0
in 1902.
The 265 cases represent infection in 203 different houses.
The cases removed to Hospital numbered 156, i.e., 58 per
cent. Most of these were isolated in the Hospital belonging
to the Hornsey Borough Council, but on several occasions the
full number of beds allotted to Finchley were occupied, and
accommodation had to be sought elsewhere. The Enfield and
Hendon District Councils were, fortunately, able and willing
to receive cases from this District, and some eight patients
were at one time and another sent to Enfield Isolation Hospital
and five to Hendon.
Disinfection of Premises, &c.—As soon as possible after
a patient is removed to Hospital, or, when the patient is
nursed at home, directly the medical attendant notifies that
the patient is free from infection, the room is fumigated with
formic aldehyde vapour, and the bedding, blankets, and
wearing apparel which cannot be conveniently washed are
passed through an "Equifex" steam-disinfector. Whenever
considered necessary, directions are given to have the wallpaper
stripped and the ceiling whitewashed.