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
Acton 1893
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Acton]
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is informed that an inmate of his house is suffering from an infectious
disease, naming it, and stating the length of time he is likely
to be ill, during which the patient is to be kept isolated. On the
other side of the circular is a copy of the Public Health Act, 1875
Section 126, informing them of the penalty they occur if they expose
the patient unnecessarily. I have hopes that this circular
will prove of great service.
The following corrected table shows how the number of cases of Infectious Diseases which have been reported during the last four years since the adoption of the Act by this district.
| 1890. | 1891. | 1892. | 1893. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small Pox | - | - | 13 | 7 |
| Scarlet Fever | 108 | 63 | 74 | 192 |
| Diphtheria | 14 | 8 | 27 | 41 |
| Membranous Croup | 4 | - | 13 | 1 |
| Typhoid Fever | 13 | 13 | 15 | 19 |
| Continued Fever | - | – | – | 1 |
| Puerperal Fever | 1 | – | 1 | 2 |
| Erysipelas | 22 | 18 | 37 | 77 |
| 162 | 102 | 180 | 340 |
The population being estimated at 26,000, would give a rate
of 13 persons per thousand who have had some infectious disease
whereas last year it was reckoned to be 7.2 per thousand.
SMALL-POX.
Seven cases were reported. Two isolated cases in the spring
of the year and five cases in the autumn. Of the first two cases
one died in the Highgate Hospital. Of the remaining five cases
four occurred in connection with a man who carried on a business
of disinfecting; and a special report was made to your board on