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6
SANITARY INSPECTION OF DISTRICT.
The remarks contained in the Annual Report for 1943 equally
applied throughout 1944. The advent of the flybomb and rocket
made considerable call upon the time of the sanitary inspectors in
endeavouring to re-house those unfortunate families who suffered
the loss of their homes. Undoubtedly the effects upon property
from bombs and gunfire will continue to be evidenced over a long
period and must inevitably lead to considerable calls upon the services
of the sanitary inspectors.
WATER SUPPLY.
The whole of the area of the borough is supplied by water from the
Metropolitan Water Board direct to the houses. During the year the
supply was satisfactory in quality and in quantity.
In view of the fact that samples of the water supplied are taken
regularly by the Metropolitan Water Board it has not been considered
necessary for the Public Health Department to do so also.
PREVALENCE OF, AND CONTROL OVER, INFECTIOUS
DISEASES.
Particulars of the incidence and distribution of the cases of infectious
disease notified during the year 1944 are set out in Tables 22-25 in the
Appendix, in which the number of cases removed to hospital and the
number of deaths in the district from these diseases are also given.
During the year there was an increase in the number of cases of
diphtheria notified, 15 being received. There was a noticeable
shift in the age-groups towards adolescents and adults, 8 of those
notified being over 15 years of age. One death occurred, a child
aged 17 months, which resulted in a death-rate for the Borough of
0.03 per 1,000 population.
It is pleasing to note that there were no deaths at all from measles
or whooping cough during the year, although there were five deaths
from diarrhoea under two years of age, an unusually high number for
the area. The rate for Barnes for this disease was 8.4 per 1,000
births, compared with 10.1 for London, and only 4.8 per 1,000 for
the country as a whole.
DIPHTHERIA IMMUNISATION.
The routine propaganda to encourage parents to have their children
immunised has continued unabated throughout the year. The
number of children attending during 1944 was slightly less than in
the previous year, but this can be no doubt largely accounted for by
the increased aerial activity during the twelve months reviewed.