London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Ilford 1936
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Ilford]
This page requires JavaScript
92
Intravenous Therapy.—Fifteen cases were treated with intravenous
injections of anti-toxic serum, glucose and insulin. 12 recovered, 2
developed palatal paresis; 1 developed palatal paresis and tonsillitis;
1 developed thrombosis of the femoral vein; 1 developed subcutaneous
emphysema, palatal and pharyngeal paralysis; two were cases of
haemorrhagic diphtheria (fatal) and one developed cardiac failure
(fatal).
1 case suffered from laryngeal diphthera, 6 from nasal diphtheria,
and 4 from laryngeal and faucial diphtheria.
The operation of tonsillectomy was performed in one case
for a persistent carrier condition.
The following table shows the percentage death-rate of cases of diphtheria admitted to the Ilford Isolation Hospital during the past five years, the rate being calculated each year only on those admissions which proved to be clinically diphtheria.
| 1932. | 1933. | 1934. | 1935. | 1936. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ilford | 1.28 | 4.8 | 8.8 | 5.7 | 4.5 |
Pemphigus Neonatorum.—2 cases were admitted and made a
satisfactory recovery.
Observation Cases.—Of the B2 cases admitted for observation,
four died. They were:— (1) a baby, aged 4 days, who died from
convulsions (the child had been admitted with its mother, who was
suffering from otitis media following a mastoid operation six
months previously). (2) a girl, aged 11 years, admitted as a
doubtful case of rheumatism; the case proved to be suffering from
septicaemia due to an infection of the blood stream of
staphylococcus aureus; death occurred within 48 hours. (3) a man,
aged 26 years, admitted as a doubtful case of meningitis; the case
proved to be suffering from acute staphylococcal pyaemia; death
occurred within 36 hours. (4) a woman, aged 35 years; the case
proved to be one of streptococcal septicaemia; death occurred
within 24 hours.
Tuberculosis.—58 cases of Pulmonary Tuberculosis were
admitted, as compared with 49 in 1935.