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
Edmonton 1918
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Edmonton]
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down in various places, at a cost of £5, in August. In March complaint
about them was received from Elsiedene Road.
Small-Pox. A satisfactory feature of the infectious returns for the
year is the absence of small-pox from amongst them; since 1904 the district
has enjoyed a complete immunity from this disease. An epidemic of this
dreadful disease is overdue, and, judging from the returns of the Vaccination
Officer, there are many Edmonton children unprotected from infection and
sure to die, if attacked. There were no deaths from chicken-pox.
| Births | Successful Vaccinations. | Conscientious Certificates. | Deaths under one year un-vaccinated | Still un-vaccinated but address known. | Postponed owing to illness. | Certificate unsusceptible. | Removed to other districts & untraced. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
In 1907 there were only 72 certificates granted to parents who alleged they had conscientious
objection to vaccination, but there were 374 this year, and 494 in 1917.
Small-Pox. In March the occurrence of cases in the County of London
led us to look over our equipment, that all may be ready in case of need. For
some time I received supplies of fresh lymph from the Government for my use
under the Public Health (Smallpox Prevention) Regulations, 1917. Inspector
Winter and I were re-vaccinated.
In June the Middlesex County Council submitted a plan for a new drainage
system at Clavering Farm Hospital: it was not approved by me, but the
Council raised no objections. In September we declined to approve of modification
of plan that would reduce the estimated cost of £700, but probably
produce an inefficient system of drainage.
Chicken-Pox. On March 26th I informed the Council that I had
received warning of nearly 30 cases of smallpox in the County of London and
its vicinity and they accepted my advice to make chicken-pox notifiable for
three months on and after May 11th. I circularised all the medical practitioners
thereon. During the 3 months 79 cases were notified by doctors and
75 by parents.
Scarlet Fever. Eighty-six cases were notified, giving an attack rate
of 1.16 per 1,000. 51, 110 and 281 were notified in 1917-16-15. There was
one death, giving a death-rate of 0.01 per thousand of the population. Two
cases were notified from the Edmonton Infirmary, one resident and one nonresident.
The latter is not included in the above figures. Not one was doubly
notified. Secondary cases numbered 4 out of 86. One case was complicated
with chicken-pox. Case No. 49 was re-notified and sent back to hospital.
There were seven cases notified where subsequent observation did not confirm
the diagnosis: they are not included in the above figures. Return Cases.—See
section on "Hospitals."