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
Willesden 1948
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Willesden]
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29
THE FIFTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT
on the
MUNICIPAL HOSPITAL
By W. F. TWINING McMATH, M.D., M.R.C.P., D.P.H.,
Physician-Superintendent.
I beg to submit herewith the Report on the Municipal Hospital for the period ended July 4th, 1948,
that is, up to the appointed day when the hospital passed to the control of the Regional Hospital Board.
The total number of patients admitted to Hospital during the period under review was 447.
CEREBRO-SPINAL FEVER
There were no cases of Cerebro-spinal Fever admitted to hospital during the period.
DIPHTHERIA
12 cases of authenticated Diphtheria were admitted. 24 patients, who were certified as suffering
from this disease, were finally diagnosed as: Vincent's Angina, 1; Streptococcal Tonsillitis, 10; Catarrhal
Laryngitis, 2; Measles, 3; Peritonsillar Abscess, 1; Cervical Gland Abscess, 1; Rhinitis, 1; Glandular Fever, 1.
1 death occurred.
The following table compares the admissions during the past 29 years with the present period:
| Total Admissions | Average Admissions per annum | Total Deaths | Average Number of Deaths per annum | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1919-39 | 7,636 | 636 | 375 | 18 |
| 1940-45 (war years) | 442 | 74 | 14 | 2 |
| 1946 | 64 | 64 | - | — |
| 1947 | 14 | 14 | — | — |
| 1948 (6 months) | 12 | - | 1 | 2 |
The peak year was 1922, with 673 cases and 56 deaths.
ENTERIC FEVER
There were no cases of this disease admitted during the period.
PUERPERAL INFECTIONS
3 cases were admitted under this heading and were diagnosed as Puerperal Sepsis.
SCARLET FEVER
120 cases were admitted, during the 6 months' period, compared with 200 in 1947, 248 in 1946, and
188 in 1945.
POLIOMYELITIS
4 authenticated cases of this disease were admitted under this heading, compared with 45 for the whole
of 1947. 3 of the cases were diagnosed as Poliomyelitis (paralytic) and 1 as Poliomyelitis (non-paralytic).
There were no deaths. 2 cases who were admitted, certified as suffering from this disease, were diagnosed as
sub-acute rheumatism.