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
St Pancras 1926
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, Metropolitan Borough]
This page requires JavaScript
The corresponding figures for the past ten years are as follows:—
| Year. | Births. | Successfully Vaccinated. | Per cent. | Conscientious Objections, and Children otherwise escaping Vaccination. | Per cent. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1916 | 4322 | 1594 | 36.9 | 1179 | 27.3 |
| 1917 | 3664 | 1581 | 43 1 | 1014 | 27.7 |
| 1918 | 3338 | 1281 | 38.4 | 932 | 27.9 |
| 1919 | 3874 | 1733 | 44.7 | 1155 | 29.8 |
| 1920 | 6086 | 2693 | 44.3 | 2118 | 34.8 |
| 1921 | 5102 | 2085 | 409 | 1934 | 37.9 |
| 1922 | 4881 | 2260 | 463 | 1775 | 36.4 |
| 1923 | 4682 | 2491 | 53.2 | 1444 | 30.8 |
| 1924 | 4398 | 2254 | 51.3 | 1355 | 30.8 |
| 1925 | 4121 | 1988 | 48-2 | 1529 | 37-2 |
SCARLET FEVER.
The number of cases notified was 432, as compared with 651 cases during the previous
year. It was subsequently ascertained that 43 cases had been incorrectly diagnosed. The
actual number of cases was therefore 389. Two deaths occurred ; this equals a case mortality
of 0.5 per cent.
Return Cases.—This term is applied to cases of Scarlet Fever which occur in a house
within 28 days of the return from hospital of a previous case. 21 such cases occurred
during the year. Two cases occurred in one house, but were not related to the same source of
infection. Two of the suspected sources of infection were suffering from Otorrhœa (ear
discharge) when discharged from hospital, and four from nasal discharge. Four others
developed nasal discharge within a few days of returning home. The remainder showed no
obvious signs of being infectious.
DIPHTHERIA.
The number of cases notified was 523, as compared with 704 cases during the previous
year. It was subsequently reported by the hospital authorities that 79 cases had been
incorrectly diagnosed, the actual number of cases was therefore 444. This equals an attack
rate of 2.05 per 1,000 of population. Twelve deaths occurred, giving a case mortality of 2.7
per cent. This is the lowest death-rate from Diphtheria ever recorded in the Borough.
Antitoxin for the treatment of cases of this disease is supplied to medical practitioners
bv the Council, free of charge. During the year 296 thousand uuits were provided.
Pretention of Diphtheria.—The following brief report on this subject was made to the
Public Health Committee in November : —
Diphtheria Prevention.
I beg to submit the following report on the subject of Diphtheria Prevention.
The subject compels attention, owing to the fact that the prevalence of Diphtheria in
London has increased considerably during recent years.