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PREVALENCE OF, AND CONTROL OVER, INFECTIOUS
DISEASES
Tuberculosis
There has been little change in the incidence of this disease,
although the death rate has fallen slightly. It is less easy to give
accurate figures here, since the cessation of the compulsory keeping
of registers.
Poliomyelitis
In spite of a small epidemic in part of the country, only seven
cases of poliomyelitis were notified in this district; there were no
deaths, and only four cases were of the paralytic variety.
Scabies
Scabies is no longer a notifiable disease. A few cases occur
and these are treated by the family doctor, or sometimes by the
School Health Services.
WATER SUPPLY
An abundant supply of water is available in the district; the
Rickmansworth and Uxbridge Valley Water Company supply the
greater part of the district, while a small area at the southern
extremity of the district is supplied by the South Western
Suburban Water Company.
Twenty-nine dwelling houses, representing 00.16% of the total
dwellings and population in the district, are supplied from standpipes
and one from a well; all other dwellings have piped supplies
from the Companies' mains.
Chemical and bacteriological examinations of the water have
been made by the Clinical Research Association, and the Public
Health Laboratory Service at Ealing. The number of samples
taken for bacteriological examination was as follows :—
Rickmansworth and Uxbridge Valley Water Company 13
South West Suburban Water Company 5
Private Wells 6
Satisfactory results were obtained from all these samples, indicating
that the quality of the water in the district is consistently good.
Ten samples of water from mobile canteens operating in the district
were also found to be satisfactory.
MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS OF COUNCIL STAFF
The total number of examinations carried out during 1953
was 141. Of these 61 were for superannuation purposes, 64 for
admission to the Council's Sick Pay Scheme and 16 for various
special purposes.
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