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5
It is possible that the general depression had a share in this increase
and a better use of the Council's Extra Nourishment Scheme and the
increased co-operation between the Tuberculosis Dispensaries and the
Public Assistance Committee should go a long way towards improving
matters in this respect during 1934.
There were 84 more deaths from Influenza, the increase being almost
entirely in persons over 45 years of age.
Enteric Fever was as usual almost negligible in amount, but I would
like to refer to the warning to campers and hikers which I mention on
page 86.
There was an increase in the number of cases of Scarlet Fever, but I
am glad to say that the disease still remained very mild, the death-rate
being .01 as compared with .03 last year.
There was a decrease in the number of cases of Diphtheria and the
death-rate was .06 as compared with .09.
So far as the deaths from Zymotic diseases generally are concerned,
there were 43 less—a death-rate of .5 as compared with .69. There was
1 death only from Measles during the year, an astonishing item even after
taking into consideration the fact that 1933 was a non-epidemic year. I
sincerely hope that this will not mean an especially severe epidemic in 1934
Smallpox (Variola minor) has occasionally shown itself in the
Borough during the year, there having been 23 cases as compared with 26
last year. Until it disappears completely from London, occasional cases
are likely to "pop up" suddenly.
I am glad to report that there were no cases of acute Poliomyelitis
during the year. There were, however, 24 cases of Cerebro-spinal meningitis
with 11 deaths as compared with 33 cases and 17 deaths last year. In
no case could the source of infection be traced to a previous case in the
Borough.
There were 32 fewer deaths from Cancer—a death-rate of 1.5 as compared
with 1.6 last year.
The Transfer of Powers (London) Order, 1933, came into operation on the
1st of April.
The transferred services which concern directly the Public Health Department
were:—
(1) Licensing, inspection and supervision of seamen's lodging houses.
(2) Registration, licensing, inspection and regulation of common
lodging houses.
(3) Licensing of dairymen to use premises as cow-houses.
(4) Licensing and inspection of slaughterhouses and knackers' yards.
(5) Sanctioning of establishment or enlargement of premises used for
offensive trades.
(6) Infant life protection under Part 1 of Children Act, 1908.
Miss Whitty was appointed as Infant Life Protection Officer and as supervisor
of the common lodging houses for women.
The duties in reference to the other transferred services were divided
amongst the district Sanitary Inspectors, this arrangement being on trial for
six months.