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82
Dysentery.
A widespread epidemic of Sonne's Bacillary Dysentery
affected the country in the early part of the year. Bromley
did not escape, and 25 cases were notified, but there were
many other cases which came to my notice.
Bacteriological investigation indicated Sonne's
Bacillus. The tracing of this infection proved negative to
a common source, and I have not heard anywhere that the
source of infection has been traced. The attacks were
severe in many cases, although of short duration, and only
in the case of the very young did it have serious results.
Deaths under two years of age increased in consequencefive
cases dying under one year of age.
Typhoid Fever.
One case of Typhoid Fever was notified in Bromley
during the year. The case was true typhoid, and, from
the evidence before me, contracted the infection in France.
W e escaped the Croydon infection, in spite of our close
proximity and inter-change of inhabitants. Much of the
credit for this must be given to the Croydon Corporation
who were able to localise the infection to the Croydon area.
Other Notifiable Infectious Disease.
The year was comparatively free of measles, but
epidemics of chicken pox and whooping cough affected the
schools to a considerable degree. The control of these
infections is difficult, especially when the public are
careless in spreading the infection in buses, trains, places
of amusement and other public places.
Tuberculosis.
Tables IX. and X. give incidence and details of cases
of tuberculosis in Bromley for the year 1937.
At the 31st December, 1937, there was a total of 44.
names of persons who have been notified as suffering from
tuberculosis. An analysis of this total gives the following
particulars of sex of patients and type of disease:—