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42
Measles.
There were 200 cases of measles notified during 1958
compared with 483 in. 1957. Generally speaking the illness
was of a mild type with little by way of complications and
all cases were nursed at home. The majority of the illnesses
(113) occurred in children in the 5/10 age group,
and 81 in younger children.
Whooping Cough.
During 1958, only 9 cases of whooping cough were
notified compared with 55 in 1957,
Ophthalmia Neonatorum.
One case was notified during 1958, the first that has
occurred in Kingston since 1947. The child was born in
Kingston hospital of parents resident in Richmond.
Puerperal Pyrexia.
The maternity block at Kingston hospital serves Kingston
and a large surrounding area embracing a population of some
285,000 persons. In spite of closure of one-third of the beds
for 6 months for major reconstruction works, 1,700 deliveries
took place during 1958 in the hospital, and inevitably some
cases of puerperal pyrexia occurred. all of which were notified
to the Medical Officer of Health of Kingston in accordance
with the regulations which define the illness as a febrile
condition occurring in a woman in whom a temperature of
100.4 of or more has occurred within fourteen days after childbirth
or miscarriage.
During 1958, 60 eases were notified, 18 of which
referred to Kingston residents and all of whom were notified
from Kingston hospital. These figures compare with 59, 8
and 59 respectively for 1957.

Food Poisoning,
In spite of the very large number of eating places and
food shops in Kingston, no cases of food poisoning occurred
during 1958 which could be attributable to lack of hygiene
in the trade.
A total of 8 cases was notified, 5 of which were
single unrelated illnesses caused by salmonella organisms,
and 3, which constituted a small outbreak in a group of
people, all of whom ate tongue which had been left in the
tin after opening, and had become infected with staphylococcal
organisms.