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II. Hospital Cases.—431.
(a) No. of infecting cases giving rise to return cases not longer than
28 days after discharge 12
„ return cases they gave rise to 17
„ infecting cases per cent. of total hospital cases 2.8
„ return cases per cent. of total hospital cases 3.9
(b) No. of infecting cases giving rise to return cases more than 28
days after discharge 5
„ return cases they gave rise to 5
„ of infecting cases per cent. of total hospital cases 1.2
„ return cases per cent. of total hospital cases 1.2
Small Pox.—No cases of Small Pox were notified during 1937.
No vaccinations were performed by the Medical Officer of Health under the Public Health
(Small Pox Prevention) Regulations, 1917.
Enteric Fever.—Ten cases were notified as Typhoid or Para-typhoid Fever during 1937, as
against 10 in 1936, 10 in 1935, 7 in 1934 and 13 in 1933.
Nine cases were removed to hospital—7 to the Willesden Municipal Hospital, 1 to the Central
Middlesex County Hospital and 1 to a London Hospital. One case was nursed at home. Of the 7
cases removed to the Willesden Municipal Hospital, 4 were diagnosed as Para-typhoid Fever B, 1 as
Enteritis and 2 as Influenza. All these recovered. The case removed to the Central Middlesex
County Hospital proved fatal. The death was certified as due to Para-typhoid B and was allocated
to Acton as the patient was an Acton resident. The case removed to a London hospital also proved
fatal, the death being certified as due to Typhoid Fever. This patient took ill on her way home from
Palestine. The case nursed at home was a case of Para-typhoid Fever B. This patient recovered.
Malaria.—No cases of Malaria were notified during 1937.
Infectious Diseases of the Nervous System—Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis, Poliomyelitis,
Encephalitis Lethargica and Acute Polio-Encephalitis.—22 cases of these diseases were notified
in 1937, 4 of these notified cases proved fatal, giving a fatality rate of 18 per cent. of notified cases.
Two of the deaths were certified as due to Cerebro-Spinal Fever, 1 to acute Polio-encephalitis and 1 to
acute Polio-myelo-encephalitis. In addition there were 8 further deaths from these diseases in
Willesden residents, and 2 further deaths in non-Willesden residents in institutions in Willesden.
Since the Autumn of 1931, in accordance with the request of the Ministry of Health, reports
have been sent to the Ministry in cases of Cerebro-Spinal Fever giving information desired by the
Ministry as to the use and results of anti-meningococcus serum treatment.
Dysentery.—35 cases were notified during 1937. 1 in January, 2 in March, 1 in April, 3 in
October, 20 in November, and 8 in December. 6 patients were admitted to the Municipal Hospital,
12 to other hospitals, and 17 were nursed at home. 1 child aged 3 years died after 3 days in the
Municipal Hospital, the death being certified as due to Gastro-enteritis.
Anthrax.—1 case was notified during 1937 and proved fatal. The patient was a woman of 34
years who was a spinner at some hair works and was concerned with the working of hair from Russia
and Siberia.
Whooping Cough is a notifiable disease in Willesden. 626 cases were notified during the
year but a total of 1,119 cases coming to their knowledge were visited by the Health Visitors. There
were 11 deaths from Whooping Cough, all occurring in children under 5 years of age, 8 of these 11 deaths
occurred in institutions.
Non-Notifiable Acute Infectious Diseases are reported from the Public Elementary
Schools and are found by the Health Visitors during the course of home visitation.
During 1937, 252 cases of measles which is not notifiable in Willesden were visited by the
Health Visitors. There were no deaths from Measles.
MOTHERS AND CHILDREN UNDER FIVE YEARS.
Municipal Centres.—At the Municipal Centres, expectant mothers attended the medical
consultations and treatment Clinics onl3,479 occasions; nursing mothers 31,266, and children under 5,
63,188, making a total of 107,933 attendances or 11,695 more than last year.
Out of the total number of 3,058 children born alive during the year, 2,053 or 67 per cent.
subsequently attended the Municipal Welfare Centres. Altogether, however, 2,431 children under
1 year of age attended the Municipal Centres for the first time during the year, excluding transfers
from other districts. This represents 80 per cent. of the 3,036 notified live births belonging to
Willesden, and 79 per cent. of the 3,058 registered live births belonging to Willesden. 398 children
between the ages of 1 and 5 years attended the Municipal Centres for the first time during the year,
excluding transfers from other districts.