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Tuberculosis.
In cases of Tuberculosis visits are at once paid by the
Sanitary Inspector; disinfectants are left together with leaflets
setting forth the necessary precautions to be adopted to prevent
the spread of infection. All contacts are kept under observation
and in addition your Council allows the free examination of sputum
for those unable to pay for it. On the termination of a case
owing to death or removal to hospital the room and bedding are
thoroughly disinfected.
Notification of Tuberculosis.
The regulations as to notification of this disease are well
carried out in this district and information always given me as to
the removal to or from Sanatorium or Hospital, but I should like
to point out that the chain of information is defective so far as
regards the movements of a case from one district to another.
Non-notifiable diseases.
There were very few non-notifiable infectious diseases in
the district this year.
Smallpox.
No primary or re-vaccinations were performed by me as Medical
Officer of Health during the past year.
Anthrax and Rabies.
No case of either of these occurred in the district during the
past year.
Ophthalmia Neonatorum.
One case occurred in the district during the year, without any
untoward results.
SANITARY ADMINISTRATION.
Staff.
There is one Sanitary Inspector who is also Inspector of
Nuisances, Inspector of Petrol Stores end Inspector to the Food
Committee. He also supervises the removal of house refuse. Your
Council give him assistance when necessary.
Isolation Hospital and Accommodation.
Caees. 126. Deaths 4.
TheDuring the year 126 cases were treated. Last year the number
was 84. I regret to say there were 4 deaths, all from Diphtheria,
Of these 126 cases, 68 were Scarlet Fever, 1 Influenza, and
57 Diphtheria. At the end of the year there were still in
Hospital 9 cases of Scarlet Fever and 11 of Diphtheria.
The majority of Diphtheria cases came from outside the district,
chiefly from Wealdstone.
There was a severe epidemic of this disease at the time both in
Wealdstone and Harrow, and I much regret to have to report that three
of the cases died whilst in the Isolation Hospital. The type of
infection appeared to be much more virulent than one has been
accustomed to of late years, and at one time I feared the mortality
would be much higher. Thanks, however, to the unremitting attention
and skill of Sister Streeter and her able Staff the greater number
of these very dangerous cases survived. I tender them my sincere
congratulations.
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