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83
VI.—PREVALENCE OF, AND CONTROL OVER
INFECTIOUS AND OTHER DISEASES.
Notifications.—2,235 notifications (other than of tuberculosis) were
received, or 639 more than in the previous year, largely due to Measles and
Whooping Cough. The notification rate for the whole Borough was 11.1
per 1,000 of the population.
Wrong Diagnosis.—91 cases of infectious diseases removed to hospital
were found not to be suffering from the disease stated on the certificate.
Of these, 15 were cases of scarlet fever, 56 of Diphtheria, 8 of Dysentery,
1 of Enteric Fever, 3 of Membranous Croup, 4 of Measles, 2 of Erysipelas
and 2 of Poliomyelitis, 28 cases were notified by private practitioners and
63 were from public institutions.
Scarlet Fever.—368 cases were notified during the year, or 13 less than
in the previous year. 356 of these cases were removed to hospital. There
were 2 deaths from scarlet fever during the year, case mortality was 0.54 per
cent.
Diphtheria.—400 cases were notified during the year, or 244 less than
in the previous year. 397 of these cases were removed to hospital. The
death rate for the whole Borough was .04 per 1,000 of the population. There
were 9 deaths, of which 7 were of children from 1 to 5 years of age, and 2
over 5 years of age ; the case mortality was 2.25 per cent.
Anti-Diphtheritic Serum.—This serum is supplied on request to the
general practitioners of the Borough. During the year 42 tubes, each containing
4,000 units, were issued from the Public Health Office.
Diphtheria Immunisation.—At the free Diphtheria Immunisation Clinic,
535 new cases attended during the year. This shows an improvement on last
year, and I have no doubt the numbers at the Clinic will continue to go up
as the clinic beco nes better known. The change made last year in the medium
used for innoculation has proved successful. I refer to the change from the
three inoculation method with T.A.M. to the two inoculation method with
A.P.T. Only 2.1 per cent, of the children were found to be still susceptible
after the completion of the immunising inoculations. It was interesting to
note that 23 per cent, of the children were found to be naturally immune
from Diphtheria, and so did not require to be inoculated. This high degree
of "herd immunity" is found among crowded city populations and is the
result partly of a hereditary immunity, and partly of the immunising effect
of many slight contacts with the diphtheria bacillus, insufficiently severe to
cause symptoms of the disease. These mild infections in themselves stimulate
the body to develop an immunity.
Efforts to make known the Diphtheria Immunisation Clinic have been
continued during the year. Leaflets were distributed throughout the Schools
of the Borough, and at the Infant Welfare Centres. Posters are exhibited
throughout the Borough and every opportunity is taken to bring home to the
parents of the Borough the desirability of having their young children protected
from this most dangerous disease,