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MEDICAL OFFICER'S ANNUAL REPORT SHEET 6 OF DRAFT
DIARRHOEA AND ENTERITIS.
This caused five deaths, all of infants taken to outside hospitals
for treatment.
This disease is peculiarly fatal to infants, especially during a dry
and hot summer, and one cannot repeat too often, that early medical
advice and conscientious action on that advice will lead to a diminution
of the deaths from this disease. The disease is to a great
extent preventable, the infecting organisms being conveyed to the
alimentary tract by way of the mouth, Strict cleanliness of food is
essential. Too much attention cannot be paid to the cleanliness of
the feeding bottles the milk should never be allowed to dry on to
the bottles and teats, after use they should be soaked in cold water,
washed well in warm water, and then BOILED in a saucepan and kept
in the saucepan under the water in which they have been boiled until
required for use. As soon as parents fully realise this and act
accordingly so will this disease decrease and lose its terrors.
"Clean food, cleanly kept, cleanly prepared, and cleanly served" is
the best known means for preventing the onset of this disease.
GENERAL PROVISION OF HEALTH SERVICES IN THE AREA.
Hospitals provided. or subsidized by the Local Authority or the
County Council.
Tuberculosis.
The Middlesex County Council is the Local Authority for Tuberculosis
administration and the County Sanatoria are situated at Harefield
between Denham and Rickmansworth and the majority of the tuberculosis
patients fit for Sanatorium treatment from this district are treated
at this Institution. The Middlesex County Council also send pulmonary
cases to Clare Hall Hospital South Mimms, but this is not a County
Institution but a hospital obtained primarily for the treatment of
Small Pox. Non-Pulmonary tuberculosis cases are treated at The Royal
Sea-Bathing Hospital Margate and at St. Anthony's Hospital Cheam,
Surrey. Some of the pulmonary cases from this district are treated in
Sanatoria other than the County Institutions such as The National
Sanatorium Benenden, The Mount Vernon Hospital Ventnor and the Grosvenor
Sanatorium Nr. Ashford Kent.
Maternity Hospitals.
There are none in the district, occasionally we receive a notification
of a birth from the Queen Charlotte's Lying In Hospital, and we have
also received requests from the Lady Almoners of several London
Hospitals for particulars of the home conditions of expectant mothers
who are to receive hospital treatment at or about the termination of
the pregnancy.
CHILDREN'S Hospitals.
There are none in the district, we have received many applications
from the Children's Hospital Great Ormond Street for reports of the
Home conditions of children who are to receive treatment for pathological
condition of tonsils and adenoid tissue growths in the air passages,
and where such conditions are found (E.G. Overcrowding) as would
predjudice the chances of an EARLY and good recovery from the operation
the patient is detained in hospital until the wound is seen to be
doing well.
Fever Hospitals.
There are none in the district, but the Council has made satisfactory
arrangements with the Southgate Council for the use of 12 beds at
the Tottenhall Road Hospital Palmers Green.