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
Edmonton 1913
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Edmonton]
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38
During 1913, the demand of Enfield and Edmonton for beds was fully met.
Neither district has preference over the other when beds are vacant, but
during the year 1912-13 from other districts 19 cases of scarlet fever and one
case of diphtheria were admitted out of 508 cases admitted, a total of 20 cases,
that is, 4.0 per cent., compared with 1.5 per cent., during 1911-12.
The following table gives the percentage of hospital isolation to cases cases notified, for the past five years :—
| 1909. | 1910. | 1911. | 1912. | 1913 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scarlet Fever | 90.81 | 96.15 | 88.24 | 92.45 | 92.54 |
| Diphtheria | 90.00 | 84.62 | 86.36 | 90.44 | 95.52 |
| Enteric Fever | 83.33 | 81.08 | 73.33 | 16.66 | 100.00 |
Officers. Dr. Haldane Cook is the sole medical officer; the house built
for him was completed in July, and on November 6th he became Resident
Superintendent.
The Clerk and Surveyor of the Enfield Council still act as Clerk and
Architect of the Hospital. Miss Eardley is the matron; there are 1 assistant
matron, 4 sisters (1 for night duty), 3 staff nurses, 16 probationers and 6 ward
maids.
Fire.—The Hospital is in telephonic communication with Edmonton
Fire Station.
Sewage. This is disposed of by a private system consisting of a
separating chamber, a septic tank and filter beds, the effluent passing into the
watercourse known as Hounsden Gutter, a tributary of Salmon's Brook.
Antitoxin. During 1912-13, Dr. Cook used it in all cases where none,
or an insufficient quantity had been administered to the diphtheria case before
admission. In most cases 4,000 units were given, and some were given as
much as 28,000 units. Drugs were only given for the treatment of complications.
He again urged medical men to give antitoxin at once to cases of
diphtheria or suspected diphtheria, and not to let them wait until hospital is
reached. In October, the Joint Hospital Board called the Council's attention
to this suggestion of Dr. Cook, and asked for the Council's help to secure
ts more general adoption. I wrote a circular letter to the medical practitioners
on this matter, dated November 25th. A reply thereto was received
from the Edmonton Local Medical Committee, representing the practitioners
of the district, wherein the Medical Committee stated that they agreed that
prompt administration of antitoxin is desirable in all cases of diphtheria, and