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South Ward figure is somewhat surprising, but is at the same time
encouraging. That particular Ward is still the most thickly
populated portion of the district, with the highest child population.
The fact that it does not show by any means the highest proportion
of infectious disease may be taken as some indication that the
mechanism of protection is operating in a satisfactory manner.
A particularly interesting feature regarding the orientation
of the infectious disease notifications is brought out in the case of
the Council Housing Estate and the Church Army Housing Estate
in Barrow Close. Out of the total of 199 cases notified during the
year, only 11 (scarlet fever 2, puerperal pyrexia 1, diphtheria 1,
pneumonia 4, tuberculosis 3) occurred in the Council's Housing
Estate. Needless to say, this figure is extremely satisfactory.
Even more satisfactory are the returns from the Church Army
Housing Estate, where only 1 case of notifiable infectious disease,
a case of pulmonary tuberculosis, occurred during the year. It is
figures such as these which give encouragement to the members of
Public Health Departments. The Council must also feel great satisfaction
in the fact that the two largest municipal or semi-municipal
housing estates within the Borough have remained so free from
infectious disease.
The Infectious Sickness Rate for the district for 1936 was 3.1
as against 4.3 in 1935 and 5.5 in 1934. This figure (3.1) is the
lowest which I can find as having been recorded for Southgate, the
next lowest being the rate for 1923, which was 3.4.
The notification of these diseases was the means of causing the
inspection, apart from the ordinary inspections, of 151 premises.
During such inspections, 41 houses were found to contain sanitary
defects, consisting chiefly, as previously, of defective water-closets,
dampness and want of cleansing. These defects have all been
remedied.
No case of overcrowding was met with in any of the houses
inspected in connection with cases of infectious disease.
One hundred and eleven cases were removed to the Isolation
Hospital at Tottenhall Road. Of these, 46 were admitted suffering
from scarlet fever, 11 from diphtheria, 3 from erysipelas, 8 from
typhoid fever, 1 from puerperal pyrexia, 1 from post scarlatinal
endocarditis, 16 from measles, 4 from measles and bronchopneumonia,
1 from measles and meningitis, 1 from rubella (German
measles), 1 from whooping cough, 1 from croup, 7 from tonsillitis,
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