London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Kingston upon Thames 1926

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kingston-upon-Thames]

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12
INFECTIOUS DISEASE.
NOTIFIABLE INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
There has been no epidemic during the year, and the
number of notifications has been small, owing chiefly to the
low incidence of Scarlet Fever.
There was a localized outbreak of Enteric Fever, which
was traced to a "carrier." The Special Report appears
under the paragraph on Enteric Fever.

The following table gives a comparative statement of notifications received during the last six years:—

YearScarlet Fever.DiphtheriaEnteric Fever (including Paratyphiod)
1921302794
1922238741
1923118171
1924143206
1925213257
192682277

SCARLET FEVER.
The type of case has been mild, and no death has been
attributed to this disease during the year. Only 82 cases
were notified, which is the lowest number for many years.
DIPHTHERIA.
There were 27 cases notified, and 2 deaths were attributed
to this disease.
The cases were scattered, but a small outbreak consisting
of four cases occurred between September 26th and
October 1st. Two children were notified, and removed to
hospital on September 26th, and as the result of enquiries,
suspicion fell upon a child who had recently returned from
Broadstairs, where she had contracted Diphtheria, and had
been treated in the Isolation Hospital there.
This child and her sister were at once swabbed, and kept
at home pending the result.
The child proved to be a positive carrier, and was
removed to the Molesey Isolation Hospital, and the home
disinfected. The next day the sister and baby brother were
removed to Hospital suffering from Diphtheria, which they
no doubt had contracted from the carrier. No further cases
occurred.
The issue of Diphtheria Anti-toxin is made through two
chemists, is available at all times, and is stocked only in
phials which contain 8,000 units for treatment and 500 units
for prophylaxis, as suggested by the Ministry of Health.
This arrangement works very satisfactorily.