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36
West Ham Council on 29th September, 1919, by notice duly given
to this Authority. The Essex County Council proposed in 1918
to apply for an order under Section 2 of the Public Health Act,
1913, empowering it to execute regulations under Section 130
of the Public Health Act, 1875, with a view to the treatment of
persons affected with Small-pox in certain scheduled districts, of
which Ilford was one. The application is still under consideration
by the Ministry of Health. In October, 1919, the Essex
County Council made arrangements for sporadic cases of Smallpox
to be sent to the Orsett Joint Hospital, negotiations being
made with the West Ham Council to admit cases, in the event of
an epidemic, into their Hospital at Dagenham.
In March, 1920, the Ministry of Health notified the Council that
sporadic cases from South-West Essex could be admitted into the
Metropolitan Asylums Board Hospitals. I understand that negotiations
are still proceeding between the Essex County Council,
the West Ham Council, and the Orsett Joint Hospital Board on
this matter.
(b) Scarlet Fever.—311 cases of this disease (6'2 of which
were in institutions) were notified in 1920, as compared with 231
in 1919. The disease continued to show a high incidence during
the spring of 1920 and again in the autumn and winter. Three
deaths only occurred, one of which was in the Ilford Isolation
Hospital. The disease therefore continues to be of a mild type.
(c) Diphtheria.—286 cases were notified in 1920, as compared
with 260 in 1919. Of the 286 cases, 81 occurred in institutions,
giving a total of 205 actually from the district. The disease was
on the whole of a severe type. Further reference will be found
in the report of the Isolation Hospital and of the School Medical
Service.
(d) Enteric Fever.—Five cases only were notified in 1920, as
compared with 14 cases in 1919. Of the five cases, three occurred
at C'laybury Mental Hospital. The remaining two cases were
in the Cranbrook Ward. Both of them had apparently contracted
the disease at a holiday resort.