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7
I am glad to be able to report a decrease of 20 deaths from Pulmonary
Tuberculosis and of 11 from Non-Pulmonary Tuberculosis; better still
there were 64 fewer notifications during the year. These statistics show
that the slight setback experienced last year has been more than overtaken,
especially in the matter of notifications (12 more last year, 64
less this).
Influenza was almost negligible, there being only 13 deaths, all in
elderly persons.
There was a great decrease in the amount of Scarlet Fever, but
Diphtheria remained about the same. I report especially on Diphtheria
on page 107.
Smallpox (Variola minor) has now disappeared from this country and
it is to be hoped that it will be many years before there is another
visitation. As I mention elsewhere, although it is a mild disease, public
opinion is such, owing to the name Smallpox, that all the measures
applicable to the severe type, Variola major, have to be taken. Careful
watch must be kept however against the possible occurrence of imported
cases of the severe type.
There were 11 fewer cases of Spotted Fever (cerebro spinal meningitis)
and the results of treatment were much better, the case mortality being
31% as compared with 46% last year.
Cancer showed a further decrease, the death-rate being 1.4 as compared
with 1.5 last year. There were 28 fewer deaths.
I wish to express my warm appreciation of all the help and all the kindness
I have received throughout the year from members of the Council in general
and from the Chairmen and members of the Public Health and Maternity
and Child Welfare Committees in particular.
I wish also to express my gratitude to Dr. O'Shiel, Deputy Medical Officer
of Health, for the unfailing support which he has given me during this his
first year of office. The difficulties in the way of a newcomer to Stepney
are well known, and the intricacies of the various Maternity and Child Welfare
Services in the Borough are out of the ordinary. His work, therefore, has
been all the more praiseworthy.