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9
Of the other diseases on the notifiable list, viz. : Enteric Fever,
Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis, Poliomyelitis and Encephalitis
Lethargica not one case was notified.
Tuberculosis. -Seven primary notifications of Tuberculosis were
received and twenty cases were notified in duplicate. The latter refer
to persons who have gone to a sanatorium or hospital or otherwise
have changed their district. Many of the patients suffering from this
disease, particularly those in the smaller houses, take advantage of the
treatment provided at or through the Tuberculosis Dispensary at
Leyton ; and Dr. Sorley, the physician-in-charge there, is always glad
to help in the diagnosis of early or suspicious cases, while
leaving the care of the patients in the hands of their own
medical attendants if desired. My own department confines itself to
supervision of the housing, the welfare of the other inmates and to
disinfection when occasion arises. In addition, I submit specimens of
sputum to the County Laboratory for bacteriological examination.
Notification of Tuberculosis is sometimes rather a delicate matter and
the diagnosis is often uncertain for some time, and although for these
reasons there is in some cases delay, I am sure that notification is
practically always made. On only one occasion during the year had I
to write to the medical attendant in regard to his failure to notify.
YENEREAL DISEASES
A County scheme for the free diagnosis and treatment of Venereal
Diseases has been evolved since the issue of the Report of the Royal
Commission on these diseases. Any resident who desires to take
advantage of the scheme should apply to me, either directly or indirectly,
when he will be instructed what steps to take, and he may be assured
that secrecy will be observed. Although he will be required to attend
one of a group of hospitals it will be at a convenient hour and in
favourable circumstances.
If a patient prefers to be treated by his own medical practitioner,
facilities are offered to the medical practitioner for obtaining special
drugs, etc., but the patient must pay the usual fees.
The scheme aims at bringing modern treatment within the reach
of all sufferers. It is of the utmost importance that these diseases be
treated at the earliest stages, and on no account should a patient place
himself in the hands of the vendors of any quack remedy, or of any
person other than a qualified medical practitioner.
During 1919 there were no cases treated under this scheme, nor
were there any pathological examinations made through its agency.
In 1918 two such examinations were carried out. All the medical
practitioners in the area are no doubt qualified to use salvarsan substitutes,
but only one so far as I can gather has taken a certificate for
the purpose of obtaining free supplies.
RABIES
Although there was an outbreak of this disease in some parts
of the country in 1919, no definite case arose in this oistrict. One
person was very badly bitten by a bad-tempered dog, which was