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

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Southgate 1938

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Southgate]

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Total number of persons discharged during 1938 58
Persons in whom no abnormalities attributable to
the original attack were discovered after 14
days 44
Patients developing rhinitis 6
,, ,, mild rheumatism 1
,, not examined (removed) 5
In all cases exhibiting abnormalities, complete recovery was
made after a short period.
From the inception of the scheme to December, 1938, 209
patients have been discharged from the Isolation Hospital at the
end of 3 weeks, with only one "return" case.
Diphtheria.— Twenty-six cases of diphtheria were notified
during 1938, as against 9 during 1937. Four of these cases were
"secondary," while one was "imported."

The ward distribution was as follows:—

1937.1938
South Ward122
Middle Ward12
North-West Ward5
North-East Ward22

As will be seen, the vast majority of cases occurred in the
South Ward. Most notifications were received from the New
Southgate area, mainly among children attending Garfield Road
School. The first case occurred towards the end of June, notifications
continuing, with intermissions, until December. While
the total number of cases was definitely small, considerable difficulty
was experienced in controlling the sporadic incidence. This was
due almost entirely to the fact that Garfield Road, the school
principally affected, accepts children from the Friern Barnet and
East Barnet districts in addition to Southgate. Thus, the examination
and swabbing of contacts was rendered somewhat difficult.
The second feature of the epidemic was the extraordinary ''carrier''
rate uncovered. Following the notification of 21 cases from the
New Southgate area, 285 swabs were taken from contacts, no less
than 13 "carriers" being discovered. This "carrier" rate is much
63