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17
6. Infectious Diserses.

Diphtheria, Antitoxic serum is supplied to Medical Practitioners
gratis for use in necessitous cases; most of the cases,
however, are admitted to Hospital, therefore the serum is usually
administered on admission.
Bacteriological examinations are carried out at the Essex
County Laboratory, Queen Victoria Street, London, where many
throat swabs have been examined during the year. These arrangements
have proved satisfactory.
Most of the cases of Scarlet Fever, Diphtheria, and
Enteric Fever have been removed to the Romford Isolation
Hospital. Other diseases such as Puerperal Fever, Erysipelas,
Encephalitis, etc., if requiring hospital treatment are removed to
the Oldchurch Hospital.
After cases have been removed to hospital or at the
termination of the illness if they have been isolated at home the
sickroom is fumigated with sulphur. In exceptional cases only is
bedding removed to the Isolation Hospital to be put through a
Washington Lyons apparatus.
The Schick test and Dick test have not been employed
nor have artificial methods of immunization against Diphtheria
and Scarlet Fever.
No vaccinations have been performed by the Medical
Officer of Health.
Intimations of non-notifiable infectious diseases occurring
amongst children attending elementary schools have been received
from Head Teachers and when it was considered desirable the
children were visited by the Health Visitors.
The numbers of persons who died from Influenza in 1921
were 5; in 1922 were 11; in 1923, 3; in 1924, 13; and in 1925
there were 9.
No cases of Anthrax or Rabies have been notified.
Facilities are not provided in the district for the disinfestation
of verminous persons and their belongings.