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36
C. Nutrition.
During the year at our Ante-natal and Child Welfare Clinics we
have continued to lay emphasis on the importance of adequate nutrition,
and, as pointed out under the heading of "Infant Welfare
Clinics" in the earlier part of this report, we have endeavoured to
impress on the mothers the great value to be obtained from such
articles of food as Milk, Fruit, Vegetables, etc.
Then, again, during our Health Week, special talks were given
on this subject in the lecture hall, and at some of the stands in the
Exhibition, and the well-known films on Nutrition were shown.
PREVALENCE OF, AND CONTROL OVER, INFECTIOUS
AND OTHER DISEASES.
As before for purposes of description it is convenient to divide
the Infectious Diseases into two groups when dealing with this section,
viz.: the Notifiable, and the Non-Notifiable.
1. Notifiable Diseases.
(a) Diphtheria.
This infectious disease remained endemic throughout the year,
and at no time showed in epidemic form, although there was the
suspicion of such in one of the elementary schools. At the beginning
of October, 3 cases occurred in one classroom, all of a very severe
type, two rapidly proving fatal, and the third subsequently manifesting
paralytic signs. A daily inspection of those in the classroom with
the exclusion of children showing nasal discharge, or excoriations, or
sore throat brought the condition temporarily to an end. About
4 weeks later another two cases of Diphtheria were notified. Both
these had previously been immunised, and had proved negative to a
post Schick test, and it was interesteing to note that both had very
mild attacks. Daily inspections were again carried out on lines
similar to the previous month, and the outbreak terminated.
It would appear that a carrier, or more probably carriers of a
virulent type of organism was responsible for the cases, and the fact
that the attack in the two immunised was mild, whereas in the 3
non-immunised it was severe proves the value of immunisation when
the individual finds himself in an environment of virulent infection.
During 1937, throughout the District, 87 cases were notified,
but 25 of these were reported from Oldchurch Hospital. It would
appear from enquiries made that these latter acquired the infection
outside the District, but were not diagnosed prior to admission, and
had therefore to be included in the returns for this area. Last year
the notifications numbered 64.
There has been no alteration in the method of dealing with the
removal of cases, or in the method of providing antitoxin to practitioners,
if they desire a supply.