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
Southgate 1949
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Southgate]
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case was reported revealed any overcrowding. In five other
instances the house concerned was shared by two families; in all
other cases living conditions, so far as space was concerned, were
entirely adequate.
It will thus be seen that no specific factor has emerged which
has an obvious bearing on the incidence of tuberculosis. This
should not allow us to lose sight of the obvious fact that malnutrition
and overcrowding must still be regarded as the greatest
obstacles to the eradication of this very serious disease.
It is to be hoped that the judicious use of the vaccine BCG
will enable contacts to be more adequately protected; a more
extensive use of the mass radiography units available would also
be of obvious service.
| Jan.— March. | April— June. | July-Sept. | Oct.— Dec. | Totals. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enteric Fever | - | - | - | - | - |
| Diphtheria | — | — | — | — | - |
| Scarlet Fever | 20 | 37 | 5 | 8 | 70 |
| Paratyphoid Fever | — | - | 1 | — | 1 |
| Sonne Dysentry | — | - | 3 | — | 3 |
| Malaria | — | — | — | — | — |
| Puerperal Pyrexia | 6 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 14 |
| Ophthalmia Neonatorum | — | — | 1 | — | 1 |
| Erysipelas | 7 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 21 |
| Measles | 128 | 345 | 22 | 3 | 498 |
| Whooping Cough | 31 | 24 | 7 | 11 | 73 |
| Pneumonia | 21 | 9 | — | 7 | 37 |
| Cerebro-spinal Fever | — | — | — | — | — |
| Acute Poliomyelitis | — | — | 4 | — | 4 |
| Tuberculosis— | |||||
| Pulmonary | 23 | 18 | 15 | 20 | 76 |
| Non-pulmonary | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| Food Poisoning | — | 1 | 5 | — | 6 |
| Totals | 237 | 444 | 72 | 56 | 809 |