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
Penge 1939
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Penge]
This page requires JavaScript
Anti-diphtheritic serum was used for the treatment of 10 cases,
76,000 units being supplied.
Scarlet Fever.
There were 56 cases of Scarlet Fever notified (as against 149 in
1938) and 43 of these were removed to hospital. Five cases
occurred whilst inmates of London Hospitals. Three families had
two or more cases. There was one "return" case.
The type of the disease was mild and no deaths occurred.
Puerperal Pyrexia.
Six cases were notified and removed to hospital and one proved
fatal.
Non-notifiable diseases.
The following cases were notified to me from the local Elementary
Schools: Measles l; Whooping Cough 4.
Disinfection.
Rooms fumigated 230
Mattresses disinfected 184
Blankets disinfected 624
Pillows disinfected 457
Miscellaneous articles disinfected 1232
Bacteriological Work.
| Bacillus found. | Bacillus not found. | Total. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diphtheria. County Laboratory. | 9 | 105 | 114 |
| Diphtheria. Clinical Research Association. | 6 | 27 | 33 |
| Tuberculosis. County Laboratory | 17 | 92 | 109 |
| Tuberculosis. Clinical Research Association. | - | 1 | 1 |
| Typhoid. County Laboratory. | - | 1 | 1 |
| Haemolytic streptococcus. County Laboratory. | - | ||
| 32 | 242 | 274 |
Notifiable diseases (other than Tuberculosis) during the year 1939.
| Disease. | Total cases notified. | Cases admitted to hospital. | Total Deaths. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scarlet Fever | 56 | 43 | - |
| Diphtheria | 20 | 18 | 4 |
| Puerperal Pyrexia.. | 6 | 6 | 1 |
| Pneumonia | 12 | o | 23 (all forms) |
| Erysipelas | 9 | 3 | - |
| Measles | 4 | - | 1 |
| Malaria | 1 | 1 | - |
Cancer.
The Cancer Death Rate per 1,000 population was 1.84 compared with
1.95 in 1938.
Prevention of Blindness.
No action was taken under Section 176, Public Health Act, 1936.
Tuberculosis.
No action was necessary under the Public Health (Prevention of
Tuberculosis) Regulations 1925, or Section 172 Public Health Act, 1936.