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24
ERYSIPELAS.
48 cases of erysipelas were notified during the year, of whom 30 were
females. The face was the affected site in 30 and the leg in 8.
14 patients were treated in isolation hospitals, 2 in general hospitals
and the remainder at home. Of these, removal of two had been requested
but was not possible as accommodation was not available.
The incidence of the cases was fairly even throughout the year, the
only month showing an undue prevalence being November.
One death was recorded from erysipelas, a transfer death in March
relating to a female of 64.
CEREBRO-SPINAL FEVER.
This year saw a further drop in the number of notifications received
from the figure of 25 in 1941 and 38 in 1940. Of the 17 notifications
the diagnosis was subsequently amended in 4 instances. The 13 cases
were uniformly distributed throughout the year. 10 of the cases were
amongst boys, the heaviest incidence occurring amongst those of six and
under.
Most patients were notified from and treated in general hospitals,
only 3 being removed to isolation hospitals.
Two patients died, one a boy of 3, the other a girl of 5. In addition,
the transfer death returns contained particulars of a man of 35 who died
from this disease in another part of the country in February.
ACUTE ANTERIOR POLIOMYELITIS.
Four cases of acute anterior poliomyelitis were notified during the
year, a boy of 15 in March, a boy of 9 in June, a boy of 5 in August and
a girl of 5 in September. Two cases were treated at home, the others
being removed to isolation hospitals.
MEASLES.
The greater prevalence of measles in December, 1941, was the
beginning of a wave of infection affecting the district for the first half
of 1942. A weekly incidence of 26 in January was followed by one of
60, 108, and 118 in the succeeding months, reaching a peak of 144 in
May. A sharp fall to 60 in June was followed by another drop to 26
in July, after which for this year the disease was almost non-existent
in this area. In all 2,509 notifications were received.
22 School Departments were affected, six having over 100 cases
and another six having between 70 and 100 cases.
Two deaths were recorded as due to measles.
The total number of visits paid to the homes by the health visitors
was 284, while 21 children were removed to hospital.
WHOOPING COUGH.
The 468 notifications this year were spread over the whole of the
year. The average weekly notification rate in the first quarter was
13, and for the remaining quarters, 10, 8 and 5. About half the
public elementary schools escaped completely, and none suffered to any