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school of patients and contacts, the majority of the cases will
become known to the health authority and visiting by the nurses
could be carried out and advice given both as to the care of the
patient and the necessity for medical advice, especially in the case
of children under school age.
Although mumps is a definite infectious disease and is fairly
easily recognisable by the more experienced, practically every child
with glandular enlargements under the jaw from whatever cause is
stated by the parents to be suffering from mumps.
As in the past cases of diphtheria have frequently been
considered by parents to be mumps until the patient was very
seriously ill, serious effort was made to have the cases of mumps
visited during the outbreak towards the end of the year. As a
result of this some three cases of diphtheria were discovered, and
several of the other cases were found not to be mumps, but some
other glandular enlargement of a non-infectious character. The
necessity for continuing to make the provision for visiting, and if
necessary, providing treatment for cases of whooping cough will be
appreciated more when it is remembered that, in Twickenham,
forty-one children have died from this disease during the past
seven years.
Puerperal Fever.—Six cases were notified during the year.
In each case where a midwife was in attendance, the Medical
Officer of the County Council of Middlesex was communicated with
and all necessary disinfection carried out.
No case either of acute Poliomyelitis or Cerebro-spinal
Meningitis was notified during the year.
Ophthalmia Neonatorum.—Thisdisease became compulsorily
notifiable from April 1st under regulations of the Local Government
Board. Three cases were notified and visited by the Health Nurse.
In each case recovery was complete.