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CEREBROSPINAL FEVER. During the year 10 cases
were notified, of which 5 were males and 5 females. The case rate
was 0.05 per 1,000 of the population. There were three deaths
from this disease, giving a death rate of 0.02 per 1,000 of the
population. All cases were removed to hospital.
ERYSIPELAS. The number of cases of this disease
notified during the year was 34, of which 19 were males and
15 females. The case rate was 0.19 per 1,000 of the population.
There were no deaths from this disease. The number of patients
removed to hospital was 15.
DYSENTERY. There were 8 cases of this disease during
the year, 6 males and 2 females. The case rate was 0.05 per
1,000 of the population. The number of patients removed to
hospital was 5.
MALARIA. There was 1 case (male) of this disease notified
during the year. The infection was contracted abroad.
DIARRHOEA AND ENTERITIS. During 1947 the
number of deaths of children under 2 years of age from diarrhoea
and enteritis was 36, as compared with 24 for 1946. Of the
children who died, 22 were males and 14 females. The death
rate per 1,000 live births was 7.87.
It is pleasing to be able to record that the epidemic of
infantile enteritis which started in the maternity wards of Forest
Gate Hospital early in 1946, and continued unabated throughout
that year, began to subside rapidly in July, 1947, and was over
by the end of August. No further cases have occurred up to
the time of writing. The only relevant feature which distinguished
the month of July was a significant fall in the number
of patients admitted, consequent upon the severe restriction of
bookings which had been imposed some months previously. It
seems likely that the reduction in the rate of turnover of the
Maternity Unit was the effective factor which terminated the
outbreak after all other measures had failed.
PNEUMONIA. The number of notifications of pneumonia
—primary and influenzal—received during the year was 316, as
compared with 249 in 1946. Of the number notified, 173 were
males and 143 females. The case rate was 1.84 per 1,000 of
the population. The number of deaths from all forms of
pneumonia was 133, giving a death rate of 0.77 per 1,000 of the
population.
PUERPERAL PYREXIA. The number of cases during
the year was 54, as compared with 52 in 1946. Of these, 42
cases were removed to hospital.
OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM. The number of cases
during the year was 4 (2 males and 2 females). One case was
removed to hospital.
ACUTE POLIOMYELITIS. Despite the severe epidemic
which swept the country during the year, West Ham came through
comparatively lightly with 15 cases—11 males and 4 females.
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