London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Battersea 1938
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Battersea Borough]
This page requires JavaScript
Particulars of the incidence of this disease during 1938 and the five preceding years are shown in the following table :—
| Year. | Cases. | Deaths. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notified. | Per 1,000 Population | Houses Invaded. | Registered | Per 1,000 Population | Per 100 Cases. | |
| 1933 | 396 | 2.57 | 344 | 12 | 0.08 | 3.03 |
| 1934 | 557 | 3.69 | 487 | 20 | 0.13 | 3.59 |
| 1935 | 383 | 2.58 | 330 | 9 | 0.06 | 2.35 |
| 1936 | 280 | 1.92 | 245 | 7 | 0.05 | 2.50 |
| 1937 | 251 | 1.75 | 220 | 9 | 0.06 | 3.59 |
| Average | 373 | 2.52 | 325 | 11.4 | 0.08 | 3.05 |
| 1938... | 217 | 1.53 | 191 | 7 | 0.05 | 3.23 |
The incidence of the disease was highest in the Church, Latchmere
and Park Wards.
Diphtheria anti-toxin, in accordance with the recommendation
of the Ministry of Health, is supplied free of charge on the request
of any registered medical practitioner, at any hour of the day or
night.
During the year 13 phials (approximately 68,000 units) of
anti-toxin were supplied, on request, to medical practitioners
practising in the Borough.
Schick Clinic.
The Diphtheria Immunisation (Schick) Clinic, established at
the close of 1927, is held weekly at the Southlands Maternity and
Child Welfare Centre. The work was carried on under the supervision
of Dr. F. Porter Smith, m.r.c.s., l.r.c.p., until his resignation
in August, when it was placed as a temporary arrangement in
charge of Dr. W. W. King Brown.
The result of the year's work is summarised as follows:—
| Sessions held | 51 |
| Patients attending in 1938 (new 400) | 594 |
| Attendances | 1,983 |
| „ (average per session) | 38.9 |
| Number of tests for susceptibility (including 8 of old patients) | 271 |
| (Positive 221, negative on 1st test 38, on second 5, no reading 7) | |