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143
INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
With the exception of Measles, the number of certified infectious
diseases was low, as compared with previous years.
Although a "Measles year," it is very gratifying to find that the
deaths from this disease were lower than ever, numbering in all 23.
There is no doubt that the very close co-operation which exists
between the L.C.C. Educational Medical Service and the Borough Health
Department, for keeping in touch with all known cases of Measles and
contacts, and the removal of severe cases to hospital, are together
responsible for this decreasing mortality.
The question of a "Whooping Cough scheme" on similar lines to
the "Measles scheme," and the making of Whooping Cough a notifiable
disease, was considered desirable by the Council, and, in fact, by the
majority of the Metropolitan Borough Councils. It is to be hoped that
this scheme is not long delayed, as there is no doubt that Whooping
Cough is not only the most distressing, but the most deadly of the
infectious diseases to young life. This latter statement is well illustrated
by the infectious diseases recorded during the year in the Health Department;
whereas there were 23 deaths out of a total of 2,093 known cases
of Measles, there were 17 deaths out of 74 known cases of Whooping
Cough.
The number of deaths from Diarrhœa is also showing a gradual
improvement. In 1935, this complaint caused 25 deaths of infants under
2 years of age, and in 1936, the year under review, there were 19 such
deaths. This is only to be expected, as explained in my previous reports,
on account of the rapid slum clearance giving better housing conditions
and facilities for cleanliness to the people, to which may be added a
cleaner milk and food supply.
Although not an infectious disease, so far as is known, the deaths
from Cancer have been tabulated in this section of the Report. These
deaths show a considerable increase as compared with previous years,
in spite of the educational propaganda carried out by this Council on the
subject, and the increasing facilities for early diagnosis and treatment
now available at the hospitals in and around the Borough.
An examination of this table shows that the increase is due to cancer
of the alimentary tract, but unfortunately the cause is not clear, otherwise
preventive measures could be adopted.