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Influenza
Influenza occurred to a fairly considerable extent in the early part of
the year of sufficient severity to result in overcrowding of the local general
hospitals but no deaths were attributed directly to this cause
Typhoid
In March notification was received from the Ministry of Health that cases
of typhoid fever were occurring in this country from an infection which had
developed in Zermatt in Switzerland. We were asked to check our local food
handlers to find if any had visited Switzerland during the early part of the
year and a circular letter was sent to managers of food shops cafes, public
houses, factory canteens water undertakings 150 stallholders in Brentford
Market, proprietors of food factories the School Meals Organisers the street
traders general practitioners and hospital superintendents, No person was
discovered,. However, one confirmed case of typhoid fever was notified an air
hostess who had stayed in Zermatt She was treated in hospital and discharged
cured
Only two contacts of Zermatt cases were discovered, but no illness deve
loped.
A case of paratyphoid fever also occurred during the year, No source of
infection was traceable locally and it was presumed that the patient was in
fected in London He was treated in hospital and discharged cured,
Tuberculosis
The number of notifications of tuberculosis in 1963 was 47 as compared with
51 in the previous year the pulmonary cases amounting to 41 and the non pulmonary
to 6 The number of deaths from this disease was four as compared with five
in 1962, and one in 1961.
The figure of 47 notifications includes 14 inward transfers i,e, cases
notified because they had removed into the Borough but who had previously con"
tracted the disease elsewhere This leaves a total of 33 new cases of tuber
culosis occurring within the borough compared with the figure of 29 new cases
in 1962
Facilities for diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis as well
as prevention and after care were provided by the Hounslow Chest Clinic., and home
visiting was carried out by Health Visitors attached to this Clinic. They were
also responsible for the examination of contacts and for the B.C.G. inoculation
for the prevention of tuberculosis B C G inoculation is now offered to all
the Mantoux negative, i e susceptible contacts of newly discovered tuberculosis
cases 53 children from Brentford and Chiswick were given B C„ G. at the Chest
Clinic in 1963.
A prominent part in the treatment was played by domiciliary chemo therapy
(i.e. treatment with suitable drugs or injections given at home) on the recom
mendation of the Chest Physician with the aid of the Home Nurses (formerly
District Nurses) provided by the Middlesex County Council,
Apart from institutional treatment provided by the local Hospital Management
Committees of the North West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board in General
Hospitals and in Chest Hospitals a Middlesex County Council Hostel was
available for chronic ambulant male tuberculous patients
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