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47
The Public Health (Pneumonia, Malaria, Dysentery, etc.)
Regulations, 1919.— So far as these Regulations are concerned—
which require notification of these diseases—their usefulness in
this district is not very apparent. Cases of Pneumonia among
the poorer class are almost invariably removed either to the
West Middlesex, Chiswick General, or other Hospitals. In
cases where removal is not possible or desired, the District
Nurse—a Queen Victoria Jubilee Nurse—acting in conjunction
with this Department, often visits and assists under
the medical practitioner in attendance.
Close co-operation exists between the School Medical
Service and the Public Health Department, and a monthly
return of children absent from School suffering from the
non-notifiable infectious diseases as Mumps and Measles is
prepared for use.
There was an epidemic of Mumps in the earlier part
of the year, and Measles was rife in the closing months.
Influenza was responsible for a good deal of sickness,
and nine deaths were directly attributable to this disease,
giving a mortality rate of 0.22 per 1,000 of the population.
Three cases only of Encephalitis Lethargica were
notified, including one from the Chiswick Hospital. No
deaths were attributable to this disease.
Cancer.—Cancer, as in previous years, is one of the
principal causes of death among the people. The records
show that 77 persons died from this complaint, or. 15 per cent,
of the total deaths. That this disease is on the increase is
undoubtedly true, but it must be remembered that there
are now better facilities for diagnosis, and with a greater
longevity more people live to the cancerous age. From the
records set out on page 9, it will be observed that of the 512
deaths recorded, 220 were of 65 years and over.
A special Committee of Chiswick medical practitioners
followed by a Joint Committee of all Authorities comprising
the Brentford Union, was formed for the purposes of
propaganda work and the dispersal of information of a nonalarming
character relative to the disease. Provision was
also made for assistance by the I.ocal Authority in such
matters as providing accommodation, transport of patients,