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
Battersea 1939
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Battersea Borough]
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Infectious Diseases. The incidence of infectious disease was notably low in 1939. In the ordinary course of events, the biennial epidemic of measles was due, but this did not materialise. There were only 1,801 cases notified, made up as follows:—
| Diphtheria | 128 | (338) |
| Erysipelas | 38 | (66) |
| Enteric fever | – | (7) |
| Scarlet fever | 177 | (388) |
| Puerperal fever | 9 | (6) |
| Meningococcal meningitis | 7 | (4) |
| Puerperal pyrexia | 23 | (17) |
| Ophthalmia neonatorum | 22 | (23) |
| Polio-myelitis, etc. | 7 | (5) |
| Encephalitis lethargica | 1 | (–) |
| Dysentery | 6 | (6) |
| Pneumonia (acute primary) | 166 | (232) |
| Pneumonia (acute influenzal) | 36 | (45) |
| Whooping cough | 811 | (541) |
| Measles | 191 | (1,608) |
| Tuberculosis (all forms) | 179 | (230) |
| 1,801 | (3,516) |
For the purposes of comparison, the average number of cases
notified in the five years, 1934-1938, is inserted in brackets.
Schick Clinic.—The diphtheria immunisation clinic was continued
throughout the year, and attended by 376 patients (225
new). 214 were immunised and 12 found to be immune on primary
test.
Tuberculosis.—Beside 179 cases notified, there were otherwise
reported 17, making a total of 196 new cases.
The dispensary was carried on throughout the year as in
normal times, but it is impossible to give the usual detailed figures
of the work carried out owing to the destruction of the dispensary
and the current records by enemy action.
Deaths from tuberculosis numbered 111, of which 8 were of
the non-pulmonary form. The death-rate was 0.84 per 1,000
of the population, as compared with an average of 0-86 during the
5 years 1934-38.
Extra nourishment was provided for 78 necessitous dispensary
patients at a cost of approximately £349.
Cancer.—262 deaths of Battersea residents were recorded,
being at the rate of 1.99 per 1,000 population, the average rate
for the preceding 5 years being 1.76 per 1,000.