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
Ilford 1939
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Ilford]
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The total number of deaths of Ilford residents from the following infectious diseases during 1939 was 175 as against 176 in 1938.
| 1938 | 1939 | |
|---|---|---|
| Scarlet Fever | 1 | _ |
| Enteric Fever | — | 2 |
| Encephalitis Lethargica | 2 | 1 |
| Diphtheria | 8 | 2 |
| Measles | 5 | — |
| Whooping Cough | 1 | — |
| Influenza | 8 | 34 |
| Tuberculosis—Pulmonary | 71 | 79 |
| Other forms | 9 | 6 |
| Pneumonia | 62 | 47 |
| Diarrhoea (under 2 years) | 4 | 2 |
| Cerebro-spinal Fever | 1 | 1 |
| Puerperal Fever | 4 | 1 |
| Total | 176 | 175 |
(a) Smallpox.—Notification of 3 persons who had been in contact with a
case of Smallpox on board ship was received. These were visited by the
Sanitary Inspectors for the usual period. No case of Smallpox occurred.
The following gives particulars as to Vaccination during 1939:—
Certificates of Successful Vaccination 1,024
Postponed 73
Conscientious Objections 814
Unsuccessful Vaccination 16
Left the District 223
(b) Scarlet Fever.—370 cases were notified in 1939.
The following " return " cases have occurred during the past five years, a " return " case being one which arises within 28 days of the freedom of the primary case from isolation:—
| Year | Cases not ified (including Institutions) | Admitted to Isolation Hospital | " Return " Hospital Cases | Per Cent. | Home Cases | Cases arising in same house | PerCent. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1935 | 357 | 266 | 8 | 3.0 | 60 | — | — |
| 1936 | 349 | 265 | 10 | 3.7 | 65 | 1 | 1.5 |
| 1937 | 309 | 254 | 5 | 1.9 | 51 | — | — |
| 1938 | 303 | 262 | 6 | 2.3 | 40 | — | — |
| 1939 | 370 | 283 | 4 | 1.4 | 53 | — | — |
(c) Diphtheria.—96 cases were notified in 1939. One death occurred at
the Ilford Isolation Hospital, and one at the Waltham Holy Cross Isolation
Hospital.
The following table shows the number of children Schick Tested and
immunised at the Diphtheria Clinics held at the Public Health Offices and the
Mayesbrook School Clinic.