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 1921
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, Metropolitan Borough]
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33
MEASLES AND GERMAN MEASLES.
These diseases are compulsorily notifiable in St. Pancras in virtue of the Metropolitan
Boroughs of Lambeth and St. Pancras (Measles and German Measles) Regulations, 1920. All
cases are notifiable by parents and guardians, but only the first case occurring in an outbreak
in a household or institution is notifiable by medical practitioners, an interval of two months
since the last case constituting an outbreak.
Subject to correction for diagnosis in certain instances 1,149 cases of measles and
81 of german measles were notified or otherwise discovered in 1921. This represents an
incidence rate of 5.4 per 1,000 population for measles and 0.38 for german measles.
Twenty-three deaths from measles were registered during the year, equal to a death-rate of
0.11 per 1,000 population, and a case mortality of 2.0 per cent. amongst notified cases. There
were no deaths from german measles.
The cases Were notified or reported as follows:—
| Measles. | German Measles. | |
|---|---|---|
| Notified by medical practitioners | 759 | 80 |
| „ parents and guardians | 258 | — |
| Discovered otherwise | 132 | 1 |
| 1,149 | 81 |
Further statistical facts in regard to the disease will be found on pages 34-36.
Through the Mayoress' Nursing Fund all cases where it was considered necessary have
been attended by a visiting nurse once or twice a day. In the year 102 cases of measles were
nursed, 858 nursing visits being made. In 99 families the patients were supplied with milk,
&c., from the fund.
The cases notified, the number of deaths, and the percentage case mortality for the six years during which the disease has been notifiable, were as follows:—
| Year. | Cases Notified. | Deaths. | Percentage Case Mortality. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1916 | 1,885 | 42 | 2.2 |
| 1917 | 3,681 | 118 | 3.2 |
| 1918 | 2,144 | 75 | 3.5 |
| 1919 | 1,034 | 15 | 1.5 |
| 1920 | 3,093 | 65 | 2.1 |
| 1921 | 1,149 | 23 | 2.0 |
WHOOPING COUGH.
The number of St. Pancras deaths from whooping cough in the past 10 years are as follows:—
| 1912 | 47 | 1917 | 27 |
| 1913 | 36 | 1918 | 80 |
| 1914 | 49 | 1919 | 7 |
| 1915 | 52 | 1920 | 60 |
| 1916 | 39 | 1921 | 38 |
Six cases of whooping cough were nursed in 1921 through the Mayoress' Nursing Fund,
74 nursing visits being made. In 26 families the patients were supplied with milk, &c., from
the fund.
ANTERIOR POLIOMYELITIS.
See page 52,
(10495) E