Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Enfield]
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27
Encephalitis Lethargica.
Only three cases of this disease were notified during the year,
one of which was fatal.
I am not at all sure that the cases were all genuine.
Official forms requiring information about these cases were
filled up without delay and forwarded to the Chief Medical Officer
of the Ministry of Health.
Small Pox.
There b;ing no cases of this disease there was no necessity for
me to vaccinate any one during the year.
In view of the fact that Measles and German Measles were
notifiable during the year and Chicken Pox for the greater part of
the time, there remained little in the way of non-notifiable infectious
disease to be notified.
In accordance with a suggestion of the Local Government
Board an arrangement has been made between the Council and
Education Committee, under which the Head-teachers of the various
schools notified to the Medical Officer of Health all absentees suspected
to be suffering from any infectious disease.
By this means we become aware of many cases of measles and
other infectious diseases, which would otherwise escape us. We
are thus able to visit the houses, and give instructions as to the precautions
necessary to be taken. These cases are also all reported to
the School Medical Officer
A Health Visitor was appointed by the Council in February to
take charge of cases of Measles, Chicken-pox and non-notifiable
infectious and contagious diseases generally, also to visit suspected
cases reported from the schools.
I find that her work is of great assistance to the staff in controlling
these diseases, while the mothers all appreciate her visits,
which have proved of great value in a number of severe cases.
During the year her visits were as follows:—
Visits re cases of Measles, Chicken-pox, Whooping Cough, Mumps and Pneumonia | 1026 |
Visits re suspected cases of Infectious Disease | 804 |
Infant Welfare Visits | 42 |
Ante-Natal Visits | 8 |
Inspections on complaint by occupiers | 210 |
Other visits | 216 |
Visits, but no reply obtainable | 53 |
Total | 2359 |