[Report 1914] / Medical Officer of Health, Axbridge R.D.C.

  • Axbridge (Somerset, England). Rural District Council.
Date:
1914
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1914] / Medical Officer of Health, Axbridge R.D.C. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    17/32 (page 17)
    Diphtheria. Measles and Mumps, Whooping- Cough . Til ere have been 44 ca.ses notified during tlie year, witli one death, many of a mild, sporadic type, serious on account of tliis liglitness o-f the symptoms, because it is difficult for the public to believe that such cases can be the causes- of dan- gerous and fatal attacks in more susceptible subjects with wliom tJiej' come in contact. Cultures of all suspected throats have been taken and submitted to the Public Health, Laboratoiy, to whom our best thanks are due for the rapidity and accuracy of their investigation, without which ill obscure and mild cases a correct diag'iiosis could scarcely be arrived at. Antitoxin has been distributed free of charge, ad lib, to all the Poor Law Medical Officers, ■which bounty has been iniich appreciated, ami it has been used freely and promptly with much success. Several carriers have been detected, isolated, and treated until rendered iuociious, and precautions carefully carried out. At the termination of cases, disinfection is carried out, as in cases of scarlatina. The above diseases are not notifiable, but were reported as they arose to the County Medical Officer, and exclusion notes 'were issued to tlie schools. Cheddar schools -were closed for Scarlatina and Churchill for Influenza. One case of acute Poliomyelitis Avas notified of mild type, and the neuritis and AA'eakness rapidly cleared up. The preventive measures were adopted in Diph- theria, regarding the discharges as a possible means of spreading the malady. These were dis- infected or burnt, particular care being enjoined