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of this incidence, then, reliance has to be placed on the fatalities ascribed
to this disease, or to the notifications of acute influenzal pneumonia,
which are probably not very accurate. Apart from the doubt as to
whether anything like all the pneumonias that should be are notified, it
is highly probable that many are that should not be ; the actual conditions
which are notifiable are acute influenzal pneumonia and acute primary
pneumonia.
Influenza is probably the reaction of the body to a virus, of which
there might be a number. It has an epidemic periodicity and is usually
most damaging in its results when its prevalence coincides with inclement
atmospheric conditions. As is the case with some other infections it is
not the original illness which causes fatalities, but the super-added
conditions, particularly respiratory complications.
The disease has perhaps acquired an added respect since the epidemic
or rather pandemic, which caused such devastation in 1918 and 1919.
This outbreak being more or less coincident with the end of the world war,
it was assumed its origin was related to conditions brought about by the
war. For that reason any increasing prevalence of influenza during these
last war years has caused feelings of apprehension, to be followed by relief
when the period of danger was passed.
Throughout the year, 108 pneumonias were notified. Of these 16
were in January, 17 in February and 11 in March. For the rest of the
year few notifications were received in any week until an increased
prevalence in November and a higher one in the last weeks of December.
The few fatalities which occurred took place at the time of this increase
in infection.
Jaundice.
Jaundice is a manifestation of a variety of diseases, of very different
causation. Quite apart from the leptospiral jaundice, which is presumably
a rat infection transmittable to man, there is the so-called epidemic
infective hepatitis. This complaint may attack at about the same time
groupings of people such as school children attending the same day
school especially in rural areas, children attending nurseries or occasionally
adults employed in the same factory. The incubation period seems to be
about one month. That, and the fact that the mode of transmission is
unknown, prevents any effective action being taken to control the spread.
A number of cases occurred in one school in this district just before the
Christmas holidays.
Jaundice from another cause has been more prevalent these last few
years, namely amongst those who have been inoculated with serum or in
some cases with a vaccine. To assist in investigation of the various
causes, jaundice was made notifiable in the Eastern Civil Defence Region.
VERMIN INFESTATION.
Scabies.
Before the war, beyond the occasional request from a local medical
practitioner, all that was heard of this complaint was the application
from a hospital almoner to assist a person attending as an out-patient.