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13
ENTERIC FEVER.
Two cases of this disease were notified, one in January
and one in November. There was very strong presumption
that the infection was contracted outside the
district in both cases. Both were treated in hospitals.
One terminated fatally. The arrangement with Hendon
Rural District Council only provides for the treatment
of scarlet fever and diphtheria cases, consequently, when
we have to deal with enteric cases requiring removal in
an emergency it has been difficult to find an Isolation
Hospital willing to receive them. I should like to take
this opportunity of acknowledging the prompt and efficient
way in which the last case was received into the
Willesden Isolation Hospital, and hope we shall be able
to utilise the same hospital again when occasion arises.
The arrangement with the Hendon Rural District Council
for the treatment of scarlet fever and diphtheria cases
again worked very satisfactorily.
The average time of treatment in this Hospital has
been :—
For scarlet fever 7¼ weeks
For diphtheria 6 weeks
In all cases of infectious diseases notified, the house is
visited by the Medical Officer of Health and Sanitary
Inspector, and every effort made to trace the probable
source of infection. The premises are inspected, drains
tested if anything suspicious is found, and any defects
or insanitary conditions of premises put in order. The
employment of working members of the family is noted,
and generally these are kept from work until the premises
have been disinfected after removal of the patient.
The other children of the household (if any) are excluded
from attending school for a specified period, the headmaster
or mistress, if a Council School, being informed
of this. The School Medical Officer is also notified of
the case, and the names of contact cases supplied to him.
Disinfectants are supplied to householders free on recommendation
of officers. In the case of a private school
the principal is informed of the case.
TUBERCULOUS DISEASES.
Fifteen deaths were directly due to Tuberculous
diseases in one or other of its forms, equal to 12.9 per
cent, of the total number of deaths. Nine were due to
tuberculosis of the lungs (Consumption), the victims
dying between the age limits of 3 and 49. Three were