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
Penge 1940
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Penge]
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Hospital treatment was provided in all cases and there wereno
"return" cases. There were no deaths from diphtheria during
the year.
Anti-diphtheritic serum was used for the treatment of 2 cases,
24,000 unit3 being supplied.
Scarlet Fever.
There were 13 cases of Scarlet Fever notified as against 56
in 1939 and 10 of these were removed to hospital. This was also
the lowest number of cases recorded in one year.
The disease generally was of a mild type and there were no deaths. There were no "return" cases.
| Disinfection. | |||
| Rooms fumigated | 138 | ||
| Mattresses disinfected | 165 | ||
| Blankets disinfected | 1,599 | ||
| Pillows disinfected | 456 | ||
| Miscellaneous articles disinfected | 1,241 | ||
| Bacteriological Work. | |||
| Bacillus found. | Bacillus not found. | Total. | |
| Diphtheria. County Laboratory. | 1 | 20 | 21 |
| Diphtheria. Clinical Research Association. | 3 | 3 | |
| Tuberculosis. County Laboratory. | 14 | 83 | 97 |
| Typhoid Fever. County Laboratory. | - | 1 | 1 |
| Haemolytic streptococcus. County Laboratory. | - | 5 | 5 |
| 15 | 112 | 127 | |
NOTIFIABLE DISEASES (other than Tuberculosis) during the year, 1940.
| Disease. | Total cases notified. | Cases admitted to Hospital. | Total deaths. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scarlet Fever | 13 | 10 | — |
| Diphtheria | 7 | 7 | - |
| Puerperal Pyrexia | 2 | 2 | |
| Pneumonia | 7 | 1 | 23 (all forms) |
| Erysipelas | 4 | 2 | |
| Cerebro-spinal fever | 6 | 6 | — |
| Measles | 125 | 101 | - |
| Whooping Cough | 5 | 4 | -— |
Cancer.
The Cancer death rate per 1,000 civilian population was 1.87
compared with 1.84 in 1939.
Prevention of Blindness.
Wo action was taken under Section 176, Public Health Act, 1935.
7.