View report page

52
The majority of these notifications were of suspected cases of
food poisoning, which were not confirmed by the subsequent
investigations. This is not to say, however, that there is any room
for relaxation, but rather plenty of room for improvement in the
care with which we handle our food. This, of course, is just as
important in the home as elsewhere, indeed it seems that the
exponents of Mrs. Beeton's art must look to their laurels in this
respect, as most of the cases reported this year were within the
confines of the family circle. Undoubtedly the answer to this
unpleasant and sometimes serious illness, lies in constant awareness
of the need for scrupulous cleanliness, particularly of the hands,
whenever and wherever food is prepared.
Measles.
Seventy-four cases were notified during the year, only three
being admitted to hospital. This figure is a big decrease on the
1,874 cases which occurred during 1957. No deaths from this
disease were recorded in the area in 1958.
This big reduction in cases of measles was to be expected following
a year in which the incidence was high, and the cases that
occurred were generally of a mild character.
Meningococcal Infections.
No cases occurred in the area during 1958.
Pneumonia.
Thirty-three cases of pneumonia were notified during 1958,
as against 17 cases in 1957, four cases being admitted to hospital.
There were 83 deaths from pneumonia. This figure includes people
who were normally resident in the Urban District, but who died
outside the area.
Scarlet Fever.
Twenty-nine cases were notified during the year, two of which
were removed to hospital, and the remainder home nursed. This is
practically the same number of notifications as was received during
1957. There were no " return cases " and no deaths occurred from
this disease during 1958.
The mild characteristics of this disease in recent years were
retained, a change that is illustrated by the fact that the great
majority of cases are now successfully nursed at home. This is in
marked contrast with the situation in, say, 1934, when of the 86
cases, 73 were admitted to hospital. As the disease is now generally
so mild, it is no longer the routine practice to exclude child contacts
from school, and this policy seems to have been amply justified
by the continued low incidence of this disease.