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 1913
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, London, Borough of]
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(b) One case derived his infection from a former case in the same family,
and one was a nurse who had been nursing cases of typhoid fever.
(c) In 6 cases (in addition to the Margate case mentioned above) there was
a history of having eaten shell-fish prior to developing the disease: —
Oysters.—2 cases, both in same-family. Onset stated to be 7 days
and 13 days respectively, after eating from same lot of
oysters.
Mussels.— 2 separate cases. One "some days" after eating the mussels,
and the other about 15 days (dates doubtful; after eating
them.
Cockles.— 1 case doubtful.
Crab.— 1 case. Onset about a week after eating crab.
(d) In the other 12 cases the source of infection was not traced.
No evidence of "carrier cases" nor of milk infection was found, and
enquiries into the source of other food-stuffs did not unmask any other
channel of infection.
Bacteriological Examinations.— 31 specimens of blood of St. Pancras patients
were examined by the Lister Institute of Preventive Medicine for the Widal
re-action of typhoid fever at the expense of the Borough. Of these 17 gave
positive results, and 14 negative results.
ANTERIOR POLIO-MYELITIS. (INFANTILE PARALYSIS).
9 cases of anterior Polio-Myelitis were notified during the year. In no case
did there appear to be any reason to revise the original diagnosis.
Only one case was fatal.
In the following table is shown the quarterly distribution of the cases since 1st September, 1911, when the disease became compulsoril y notifiable in London:—
| St. Pancras. | County of London. | |
|---|---|---|
| Fourth Quarter, 1911 | 2 | 41 |
| First „ 1912 | — | 19 |
| Second ,, ,, | — | 22 |
| Third | 3 | 09 |
| Fourth ,, ,, | — | 24 |
| First „ 1913 | — | 9 |
| Second ,, ,, | 9, (both in June) | 22 |
| Third | 3 | 00 |
| Fourth ,, ,, | 4 (two in Dec.) | 55 |
It will be seen that the disease has had a distinct seasonal variation, and
has been most prevalent from June to the end of the year. This distribution
resembles that of scarlet fever and diphtheria.
Judging from the number of cases diagnosed the incidence of the disease
has been almost trifling since it became notifiable. Experience has shown that
it can at times become epidemic, and take on a much more serious character
from the point of view of public health. An important point about the disease
is the fact that a considerable proportion of those who contract it are left with
lameness or other permanent paralysis. It is one of the commonest causes of
crippling.