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74
INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
All homes are visited by a Sanitary Inspector and an Enquiry
Officer, who investigates the possible sources of infection, arranges for
admission to Hospital, and deals with schools and contacts. He also
arranges for the rooms to be closed and disinfected and for the admission
of contacts to the Reception House if necessary.
Your Medical Officer is available for consultations with Medical
Practitioners in doubtful or difficult cases.
In addition to the usual notification from Medical Practitioners, there
is close co-operation between the Public Health Department and the School
Medical Service of the London County Council.
School intimation notices are received regularly and visits are made
to the houses by our Health Visitors and conditions reported upon to the
Medical Officer of Health.
SMALLPOX.
There were 31 cases notified during 1931 as against 106 in 1930.
Towards the end of the year this disease became more prevalent,
owing to the infection being spread by mild unrecognised cases.
It is interesting to note that I saw no case occurring in a vaccinated
person.
The disease has continued a mild type and no deaths have occurred.
No action was found necessary under the Smallpox Prevention
Regulations, 1917.
SCARLET FEVER
The notifications of this disease were the lowest on record since 1923.
The disease continues to be very mild in character as shown by the fact
that only 3 deaths occurred out of 514 known cases.

The Dick test has not been used for diagnosis or for susceptibility
tests.