London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
St Pancras 1919
Report of the Medical Officer of Health for the year 1919
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51
No connection between the cases and no source of infection was traced.
Four of the cases were in one ward. Three of the cases were treated in the
North-Western Hospital (M.A.B.), three in general hospitals, and one in
the Infirmary (South).
From 1913 the number of cases of cerebrospinal meningitis in the borough notified, or otherwise reported (corrected for errors of diagnosis, etc.), and the number of these cases which died, were as follows:—
| Cases notified. | Fatal cases. | Case mortality per cent. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1913 | 3 | 2 | 67 |
| 1914 | 3 | 2 | 67 |
| 1915 | 38 | 21 | 55 |
| 1916 | 20 | 12 | 60 |
| 1917 | 21 | 16 | 76 |
| 1918 | 9 | 8 | 89 |
| 1919 | 8 | 7 | 87 |
ENCEPHALITIS LETIIARGICA.
This disease was made compulsorily notifiable throughout the country from
1st January, 1919. Five cases of the disease had been reported in St. Pancras
in 1918.
In the 52 weeks ended 27th December, 1919, 3 cases of encephalitis
lethargica were notified. There were no deaths. (2 cases—one fatal—were
reported during the remaining four days of. 1919, and are not included in
this report).
The particulars of the cases were as follows:—
A. F. Male. Aged 21. Ward! (N2). 2nd Lieut, in R.A.F., Harlaxton,Lines.
Came home on 19th December, 1918. Onset 21st December. Notified 1st January,
1919. Headache, lethargy, ptosis, diplopia, pupils unequal, mask-like and wretched
facies, inability to whistle, difficulty in swallowing, paresis of right arm, steps
slow and short, knee jerks very weak, slow mentality, slight tremor, marked constipation
from first. Admitted R.A.F. Hospital 3rd January. Patient was in an
aeroplane smash 6 months previously. Report on 2nd March, 1920—Working as
bank clerk, irritable and passionate, bad memory, sleeps badly, tremor and weakness
of right arm, now has to wear glasses.
H. L. Male. Aged 45. Ward 5 (W 4). Motor works. Sore throat 16th
December. 1918 (no membrane), followed by pneumonia. After 23rd December,
pain in back, lethargy, ptosis, indistinct vision, pupils normal, no squint, facial
paralysis, inability to swallow (nasal regurgitation—no diphtheria bacilli), delirium
2 weeks, some stiffness of neck. Notified 6th January, 1919. Report on 2nd
March, 1920—Completely recovered, motor driving.
E. P. Male. Aged 56. Ward 3 (E 1). Shopkeeper. Onsetevery gradual.
Not well from 12th January. Great lethargy (would go to sleep in the midst of
various actions), delirious, slight ptosis, no paralyses, but weakness, twitcliings and
hiccough, mask-like face, tongue very dirty, constipation marked from first. Notified
4th February. Delirious during convalescence. Report on 25th February, 1920—
Irritability ("can't sit still"), short memory, sleeps well, tremors, especially of
right leg, no paralysis, sees well, but eyes "glare."