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 1940
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Ilford]
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Of the cases notified, the following table shows the percentage treated in
institutions, including those who were treated in the institutions from which
they were notified:—
Scarlet Fever 85.9
Diphtheria and Membranous Croup 96.8
Enteric Fever 100.0
Puerperal Pyrexia 89.8
Pneumonia 64.5
The total number of deaths of Ilford residents from the following infectious
diseases during 1940 was 165 as against 175 in 1939.
1939 1940
Scarlet Fever — —
Enteric Fever 2 1
Encephalitis Lethargica 1 —
Diphtheria 2 5
Measles — —
Whooping Cough — —
Influenza 34 21
Tuberculosis—Pulmonary 79 59
Other forms 6 11
Pneumonia 47 61
Diarrhoea (under 2 years) 2 3
Cerebro-spinal Fever 1 1
Puerperal Sepsis 1 3
Total 175 165
(a) Smallpox.—Notification of 5 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 1940:—
Certificates of Successful Vaccination 805
Postponed 39
Conscientious Objections 621
Unsuccessful Vaccination 34
Left the District 243
(b) Scarlet Fever.—136 cases were notified in 1940.
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 notified (including Institutions) | Admitted to Ilford Isolation Hospital | "Return" Hospital Cases | Per Cent. | Home Cases | Cases arising in same house | Per Cent. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | — | — |
| 1940 | 136 | 108 | 1 | .9 | 25 | 1 | .04 |
(c) Diphtheria.—92 cases were notified in 1940. Of these, two deaths
occurred at the Ilford Isolation Hospital and one at Queen Mary's Hospital,
Stratford. Two other deaths of Ilford residents occurred, one at Cuddington
Isolation Hospital, Cheam, and one at Stowmarket Isolation Hospital.