View report page

5
elsewhere. 22 houses were visited in this way. In 3 cases there had been apparently no delay in
seeking medical advice. In 4 cases there appeared to have been delay between the date when the
patient saw a doctor and the time when further investigation was sought. In 7 cases the delay was
due either to the patients ignoring the warning signs or to their reluctance to see a doctor. One patient
moved out of the district and was lost sight of, and in the remaining 7 cases no information was
forthcoming.
INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
During the year 1934, 2,503 cases of Infectious Disease were notified as compared with 2,445
in the previous year. The total of 2,503 includes 365 notifications of Diphtheria as compared with
392 in 1933. 811 cases of Scarlet Fever as compared with 694 in 1933, 324 cases of Pneumonia as
compared with 335 in 1933, 480 cases of Whooping Cough as compared with 524 in 1933, and 111
cases of Erysipelas as compared with 100 in 1933. The number of cases of Scarlet Fever is the highest
since the epidemic of 1921, in which 1,527 cases were recorded.
Return Cases of Scarlet Fever.—The following statement gives the return cases that
have occurred during 1934:—
I. Home Cases.—Approximately 70.
(a) No. of infecting cases giving rise to return cases not longer than
28 days after release from isolation2
return cases they gave rise to 4
„ infecting cases per cent. of total home cases 2.8
return cases per cent. of total home cases 5.7
(b) No. of infecting cases giving rise to return cases more than 28
days after release from isolation 0
„ return cases they gave rise to 0
„ infecting cases per cent. of total home cases 0
„ return cases per cent. of total home cases 0
II. Hospital Cases.—Approximately 741.
(a) No. of infecting cases giving rise to return cases not longer than
28 days after discharge 28
,, return cases they gave rise to 36
„ infecting cases per cent. of total hospital cases 3.8
„ return cases per cent. of total hospital cases 4.9
(b) No. of infecting cases giving rise to return cases more than 28
days after discharge 16
„ return cases they gave rise to 20
of infecting cases per cent. of total hospital cases 2.2
„ return cases per cent. of total hospital cases 2.2
Small Pox.—No cases of Small Pox were notified during 1934.
No vaccinations were performed by the Medical Officer of Health under the Public Health
(Small Pox Prevention) Regulations, 1917.
Typhoid Fever.—Seven cases were notified during 1934 as against 13 in 1933 and 10 in 1932.
Of the 7 cases notified, 6 were removed to hospital—5 to the Willesden Municipal Hospital
and 1 to another hospital—and 1 to a Nursing Home. Of the 5 cases removed to the Willesden
Municipal Hospital, 1 was diagnosed as Paratyphoid B, 1 as malignant disease of the bowel, 1 as
Empyema, 1 as Acidosis and 1 Slight Sore Throat—otherwise normal.
The case in the other hospital was that of a trained nurse who had been nursing a case of
Typhoid Fever, result unknown.
The case admitted to the Nursing home was diagnosed as (a) Lobar Pneumonia (b) Enteric
Fever. This case proved fatal.
Of the 5 cases admitted to the Municipal Hospital, 2 were transferred to the Central Middlesex
County Hospital, 1 was advised as to suitable diet, 2 made a good recovery.
Malaria.—One case of Malaria was notified during 1934. This patient had lived in Palestine
and India for 6½ years and returned to England in 1933. He had suffered from previous attacks
when abroad. A private doctor attended this patient in his own home and he recovered.
Continued Fever.—One case of Continued Fever was notified during the year. This patient
a child of 5 years was admitted to the Municipal Hospital. Diagnosis—Measles, Complications BronchoPneumonia
and Otorrhoea. Made a good recovery.
Infectious Diseases of the Nervous System—Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis, Poliomyelitis,
Encephalitis Lethargica and Acute Polio-Encephalitis.—19 cases of these diseases were
notified in 1934. 8 proved fatal, giving a fatality rate of 42 per cent. of notified cases. In one of the
fatal cases the death was attributed to Polio-Encephalitis, and in 1 to Poliomyelitis. The 6 other
deaths were certified as due to Cerebro-Spinal Fever.