London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Southgate 1906

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Southgate]

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33
neighbourhood, the spread of the disease was caused mainly
by direct and indirect infection from house to house (1) by
means of the swarms of flies acting as conveyors of infection,
and (2) by direct and indirect communication between the
occupants from house to house.
In this way, and in this way only, in my opinion, can the
explanation of the outbreak be found.
DIARRHÅ’A.
This disease was very prevalent during August and
September throughout the district, and was the cause of 27
deaths. This is a rate of 1.0 per 1,000 of the population, as
against .35 in the preceding year, .26 in 1904, .4 in 1903,
.3 in 1902, .79 in 1901, and .4 in 1900.
The disease was especially prevalent amongst and fatal
to infants under one year of age, amongst whom 23 of the 27
deaths occurred.
The prevalence of the disease was due to the extremely
hot and dry summer. Flies were very abundant, and in some
spots occurred in swarms, and there is little doubt that they
largely contributed to the dissemination of the disease by
conveying infective material to milk and other articles of diet.
TUBERCULOSIS.
During the year there were 18 deaths from Tubercular
diseases, 9 of these being from Phthisis.
In all cases of Phthisis that have come to my knowledge,
leaflets have been left pointing out fully the nature and danger
of the disease, and the means to be taken for the prevention
of the spread of infection to others; and where rooms
occupied by consumptive persons have been evacuated by
death or otherwise, a visit has been paid by one of the
sanitary officials and an offer to disinfect, free of cost, by the
Sanitary Authority has been made, and in most cases carried
out.
ISOLATION HOSPITAL.
The Hospital is built on a site of nine acres of land
situated in Tottenhall Road, Palmers Green. It is a fine
open and airy site, admirably adapted for the purpose. Only
a portion of the site is at present occupied by the Hospital
premises, the remainder being let off in allotments. The
Hospital premises are entirely closed by a close boarded
fence, and there is one entrance only, in Tottenhall Road.