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Section F. Prevalence of, and Control over, Infectious and other
Diseases.
1. (a) Smallpox.— No cases of Smallpox occurred during 1937.
(b) Scarlet Fever.— There was a decrease in the number of cases
from 149 to 96 during this year. No deaths occurred and most of the
cases were mild.
(c) Diphtheria.—46 cases of Diphtheria were notified. This is the
smallest number recorded in the district for many years. There were 2
deaths.
In March, 1936, a scheme was started by the Council for providing
immunisation against diphtheria. The inoculations are given by the private
practitioners of the district. For all cases of children between 1½ and 9
years of age attending the welfare centres or elementary schools, the material
for inoculation is provided free and a fee of 3/6 per case is payable to the
medical practitioner. In other cases free material for inoculation is provided
on condition that a certificate of inoculation is given by the doctor.
The material for inoculation is Alum Precipitated Toxoid of which one
injection is given. The Schick test is not used.
160 injections were given during the year under this Scheme.
(d) Puerperal Fever and Puerperal Pyrexia.— On October 1st,
"Puerperal Fever" ceased to be a notifiable disease under this term, and
since then has been included under the designation "Puerperal Pyrexia."
Of the six cases notified, four occurred in a hospital within the Metropolitan
area, one in a private nursing home and one in the patient's own
home.
(e) Typhoid and Paratyphoid Fever.— One case of typhoid fever
and two cases of paratyphoid fever were notified. One death from typhoid
was transferred to the district by the Registrar General. The patient was an
inmate of a mental hospital and had not resided in the district for some
years.
(/) Dysentery.—Four cases of dysentery were notified. In three
cases the Sonne bacillus was isolated from the stools.
Particulars of the incidence of notifiable diseases during 1937 and an
analysis of the cases in age groups are contained in accompanying tables.