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SCABIES. During the year under review, the incidence
of this disease, which affected both children and adults, showed
an appreciable decrease as compared with 1944 and 1945. The
number of persons treated at the Council's Clinic during the
year was 1,913, as against 2,970 in 1944, and 2,761 in 1945.
Scabies is not notifiable in this Borough, but there is reason to
believe that the majority of cases are referred to the Clinic, and
that these figures therefore give some indication of the true
incidence of this disease.
All the treatment was carried out at the Council's Balaam
Street Baths Centre.
Although it is pleasing to report a drop in the number of
cases treated, it is not to be expected that a complete eradication
of the disease will take place while the civilian population
of the area have to live under such overcrowded conditions as
now prevail.
Cases of scabies discovered at school were sent for treatment
by the School Medical Officers. Doctors practising in the
area also sent their patients for treatment, and a number of
cases were received from out-patient departments of various
hospitals.
The treatment of cases remained as in former years, consisting
mainly of thorough bathing, and painting with Benzyl
Benzoate; this form of treatment was very successful.
The continued attendance of persons for treatment obviously
shows that the general public appreciate and make use of the
facilities provided by the Council.
Quite a number of persons suffering from skin diseases
ether than scabies, attended for treatment. These were examined
by the Medical Superintendent of the Council's Infectious
Diseases Hospital, who paid daily visits to the Centre, and cases
requiring hospital treatment were admitted to Plaistow Hospital.
DISINFECTION AND DISINFESTATION. The number
of dwellings disinfected after removal to hospital, recovery or
death of a patient was 655, involving the disinfection of 859
rooms.
Disinfestation for vermin was carried out in 282 premises
involving 562 rooms.
PLAISTOW FEVER HOSPITAL
Report by Dr. Donald MacIntyre, M.C., M.D., D.P.H.,
Medical Superintendent
The year 1946 proved to be a healthy one as judged by the
prevalence of the common infectious diseases. There was no
epidemic of any significance, and the infections that did occur
were generally of a mild type.
The total number of admissions during the year was 773,
as compared with 991 in 1945. The number of cases in the
Hospital on 31st December, 1945, was 86, bringing the total
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