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68
SECTION F.—PREVALENCE OF, AND CONTROL
OVER, INFECTIOUS AND OTHER DISEASES.
Tables IX., IXa, X. and XI. in the Appendix give
statistical data with reference to notifiable infectious
diseases and tuberculosis.
Much of our attention is given to notifiable diseases,
such as, Scarlet Fever and Diphtheria, which continue to
occur in the Borough, but little attention is given officially
to the diseases, such as, Measles and Whooping Cough,
which cause such high mortality and morbidity among
children. During epidemic periods much could be done
to alleviate this problem by the employment of an
infectious disease Nurse, who would be responsible for
giving advice to parents on the necessary care to be
exercised in the home nursing of such cases. This is not
a new problem, but the matter is, nevertheless, not to be
ignored. Taking death rates per 1,000 population during
the past year alone; Measles 0.16, Scarlet Fever 0.03,
Whooping Cough 0.03 and Diphtheria 0.05, and without
taking into account the amount of morbidity caused
through these diseases, the question is one for earnest
consideration. Another point, an economic one, is the loss
of school time occasioned by cases occurring in the
elementary schools, as follows: Measles 608 cases,
Whooping Cough 220, Scarlet Fever 62 and Diphtheria 9.
Scarlet Fever.
There was a slight fall in the incidence of Scarlet
Fever during 1936, but in spite of all the steps taken to
prevent spread of the disease, one found the incidence still
a high one. The attack rate is 2.4 per 1,000 population.
This compares with a rate of 2.57 for the neighbouring
administrative area of the London County Council.
Of the 141 cases notified in Bromley, 108 were
admitted to Hospital, i.e., 76 per cent., compared with 80
per cent. of the previous year. This is, in the generally
accepted view, a reduction in the right direction. The
Report of the Medical Research Council issued in 1933
bears out this opinion, as it is therein stated that: