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13
Sickness and Deaths from Notifiable Diseases.—
Table IV. shows the number of cases of infectious
diseases notified in the borough during 1918.
Scarlet Fever.—228 cases were notified, being fewer
than in any year since 1891, and there were four deaths.
Diphtheria.—206 cases were notified with 12 deaths,
against 237 cases with 16 deaths in 191 7.
Enteric Fever.—15 cases were notified. Of the five
deaths from the disease two were of Fulham parishioners
who were patients in lunatic asylums.
Puerperal Fever.—12 cases were notified, and there
were five deaths or 1.9 per 1,000 births.
Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis.— Eight cases were
notified, but in two the diagnosis was not confirmed, and
there were three deaths, against 20 cases with eleven
deaths in 1917.
Acute Polioencephalitis and Poliomyelitis.—
Two children, aged respectively 2 and 3 years, were
notified as suffering from poliomyelitis. Both recovered
with slight paralysis. The death of a boy aged 15
(unnotified), was ascribed to anterior poliomyelitis with
implication of the respiratory muscles.
Encephalitis Letliargica.—In the spring of the year
attention was drawn to the occurrence of some cases of
an obscure infectious disease, presenting unusual cerebral
symptoms, and these were at first thought to be cases of
the disease known as botulism, which is due to the consumption
of infected food. Investigation, however,
showed that the disease was not botulism but appeared to
be an infectious disease unrecognised until recently, and
probably distinct from the form of acute poliomyelitis
which attacks the brain (acute encephalitis). Two fatal
cases of the disease were reported in the borough, a man
aged 59, living in Stephendale Road, who died in Chelsea
Infirmary, and an infant of 5 months, living in Gunterstone
Road.