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Cancer
It will be seen by the table of causes of death (page 30) that in 1951 94 cases (48 males
and 46 females) died from cancer. (See Appendix Tables VII and VIII.)
Disinfection
In cases of infectious disease, rooms, clothing, etc., were disinfected—rooms by sealing
and fumigating with formalin preparation; clothing, bedding and other infected articles
by removal for disinfection in the Council's disinfector at Salisbury Road Depot.
List of premises, articles, etc., disinfected during the year:—
Rooms 30 Eiderdowns 6
Beds 25 Quilts 10
Blankets 70 Pyjamas (pairs) 20
Mattresses 23
Sheep 48 Plimsolls (routine disinfection during holiday for Featherstone
Books 36
Pillows 35 School) (pairs) 50
Provision of Antitoxin and Vaccine Lymph
The Council provides diphtheria antitoxin and tetanus antitoxin free to local practitioners
in the district. These antitoxins are obtained from the Health Department during
office hours and by direct request to the Medical Officer of Health at other times. In the
event of emergency supplies of vaccine lymph being required, it is obtainable at very short
notice.
Vermin and Scabies
The total number of attendances for treatment at the Cleansing Station rose during
1951. The largest proportion of these cases were either referred as scabies and found to
be suffering from some other skin disease or came for treatment of other skin disease. The
number of scabies patients, however, did rise from 99 in 1950 to 122 in 1951. There was a
considerable drop in the number of patients treated for infestation with vermin. This was
partly due to an increase in the number treated direct by the Middlesex County Council
school clinics, but the low attendances at the clinics combined with the low figures of
infestation found on school head inspections (see Tables XIII and XIV) gives reason to
hope that there has been a real decline in the spread of pediculosis.
OLD PEOPLE'S WELFARE
Twenty-four cases of old people living in difficult circumstances were brought to the
notice of the department during 1951. A considerable amount of investigation and
enquiry is required in each of these cases as they vary so much.
Details of the cases are as follows:—
6 admitted to hospital.
5 died at home.
2 admitted to Old People's Homes.
11 remained at home with Home Help.
In addition many enquiries were received concerning provision of comforts for old
people, the availability of private hostel accommodation, and many problems not directly
concerned with public health, but which are of vital importance to the old people concerned.
Since the formation of the Old People's Welfare Committee, reported previously, a good
deal of the visiting of old people is done by their visitors and help in obtaining walking sticks,
fireguards, etc., can be given by them. This Committee was very active throughout the year
endeavouring first to co-ordinate the various voluntary groups within the Borough working
for the welfare of old people, and in arranging for a rota of voluntary visitors who could call
on home-bound aged persons brought to the notice of the Committee. The Committee
started also to formulate plans for a voluntary chiropody service for old people, which, it
was hoped, would be started in the new year.
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