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7
The incidence of infectious diseases was higher last year
mainly owing to the presence of measles in epidemic form.
Slight increases are recorded in the number of cases of
pneumonia, diphtheria and scarlet fever. Influenza was
present in epidemic form in the first three months of the year.
At the end of the year there were 1,868 cases of pulmonary
tuberculosis and 539 cases of non-pulmonary tuberculosis
making a total of 2,407 cases, known to be living in the
Borough. These figures shew an increase over those of 1923.
They are fallacious, in so far as they include cured cases. The
Public Health (Tuberculosis) Regulations, 1924, however,
now provide for the removal of cured cases from the Tuberculosis
register and as this deletion will take place during
1925, a more reliable set of figures will be obtained by the
end of the year, a matter of much importance in effective
administration. The Care Committee, which came into being
in 1923, continued to develop during the year. Details of
the work done by this Committee will be found in the Tuberculosis
Section of the report.
Maternity and Child Welfare work has continued to grow
in usefulness during the year. The attendances at the welfare
centres have increased from 2,249 in 1918 to 26,706 in 1923,
and 28,616 in 1924. These figures speak for themselves.
Section VII. of the report deals with Sanitary Administration
and the published statistics shew that a very great deal
of work has been done in improving the existing conditions
of houses. An inadequate number of houses for the needs
of this Borough hampers this side of the work of the department.