London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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St Pancras 1921

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, Metropolitan Borough]

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52
2. The other family outbreak of enteric was in a family living in a tenement house in
Ossulston Street, Somers Town. The cases were as follows:—
B. (5) Severe case. Became ill about 5th July and was admitted to University College
Hospital on 13th July. Clinically a case of typhoid fever, and Widal reaction positive for typhoid,
but stools and urine negative.
(His brother, aged 7, was ill from about 22nd June, with feverishness and headache. He was
treated as an out-patient at University College Hospital and was also admitted on 13th July. The
hospital authorities stated that they had no definite reason for thinking that he was a case of
typhoid, but that the Widal reaction was not tested; stools and urine negative.)
Mrs. C. (27), mother of above-mentioned children. Ill from about 12th July with feverishness,
diarrhœa and abdominal pain. Admitted to St. Pancras Hospital on 19th July. Clinically
typhoid, and Widal reaction positive for B. typhosus 1 in 50, and partial for 1 in 100.
G. (3) (sister of B. (5) and B. (7) ). Ill from about 16th July with feverishness and abdominal
pain. Clinically typhoid, and Widal reaction positive for B. typhosus 1 in 100.
The family consisted of Mr. and Mrs. C., the above-mentioned children and a baby (G. (1 1/12) ).
Mr. C. and the baby were not ill, and there was no sickness amongst the other three families in the
tenement house. The source of infection was not traced. None of the cases were fatal.

The number of cases of typhoid fever, corrected for errors of diagnosis, which have been notified since 1913, and the number of these cases which have died, are shown in the following table:—

Year.Cases Notified.Fatal Cases.Case Mortality per cent.
191326623
191427415
191516831
191629517
191717529
191811545
19197229
19201417
19212628

It will be noticed that in 1920 and 1921 there was an increase in the number of cases
corresponding to the decline shown in 1917-19, but that the number of fatal cases has remained
very low.
ACUTE ANTERIOR POLIOENCEPHALITIS AND POLIOMYELITIS.
Four cases were notified in 1921, all as poliomyelitis. None of them were immediately
fatal, but one died three months after the beginning of the illness (see below). The particulars
were as follows:—
B. F., female, aged 3. Ward 7 (T). Onset, 13th April, when she fell while walking and there
was some feverishness. Admitted to Great Ormond Street Hospital on 18th April. On admission
the arms and legs were affected, the right hand being stronger than the left; flexion poor in left
leg, and extension limited in both legs; tenderness on movement. Notified 14th May. Improved.
Developed scarlet fever on 1st July. Continued as an out-patient at Great Ormond Street. The
arms soon recovered and in July, 1922, the legs had almost completely recovered.
E. G., male, aged 1. Ward 6 (K). Onset 7th June. Fretful, off food, irritable, drowsy,
twitching of face, pain at back of neck; both legs affected (went off feet on 9th June). Notified