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tion and had exercised strict precautions throughout his own
quarantine period, had much to do with the successful limitation
of the outbreak.
Observation over "contacts" removing into Wimbledon
from other areas in which smallpox was prevalent has also been
strictly carried out during the year, but no other cases have
developed within the Borough.
Typhoid Fever and Paratyphoid:—There was a slight increase
in the number of cases notified during 1927—4 cases of
typhoid and 7 paratyphoid "B" cases. No source of infection
could be traced in any case, and there was certainly no possibility
of one case having infected another. Three of the cases
had been on holiday shortly before notification.
Puerperal Fever and Pyrexia:—One case of puerperal fever
and 9 cases of puerperal pyrexia were notified, of which the
case of fever and 3 cases of pyrexia were removed to hospital.
A case of true scarlet fever developing Puerperal Fever was
admitted to the Wimbledon Isolation Hospital (v. Hospital
Report.)
Under the new Regulations the medical practitioner in
charge of such cases may either order the removal of the patient
to hospital or may continue domiciliary treatment and ask the
Local Authority to provide obstetric and bacteriologist consultants.
In Wimbledon the former course has always been adopted,
and no requests for assistance otherwise have been made.
Encephalitis Lethargica.—Two cases were notified and one
(mild in type) was admitted to hospital.
"Return" cases of Scarlet Fever:—v. Hospital Report.
No cases of malaria, dysentery or trench fever were notified.
Control of Infectious Outbreaks:—In connection with outbreaks
of infectious diseases many local authorities, advised by
their medical officers, are placing less importance than formerly
on the value of chemical disinfection of the home. Some, indeed,
have abolished disinfection in many of the milder diseases,
and rely entirely on a thorough soap and water cleansing
and "flushing" of rooms by fresh air. Much depends on the
views that the medical officer holds in regard to the way in
which these diseases are spread and carried. The arranging of
disinfection is occasionally a matter of some difficulty, more
especially in these days of overcrowding when families occupy
only one room in a house.
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