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 1942
[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 | 78.8 |
| Diphtheria and Membranous Croup | 94.8 |
| Enteric Fever | 66.6 |
| Puerperal Pyrexia | 91.9 |
| Pneumonia | 68.2 |
The total number of deaths of Ilford residents from the following infectious diseases during 1942 was 170 as against 199 in 1941.
| 1941 | 1942 | |
|---|---|---|
| Scarlet Fever | - | - |
| Enteric Fever | - | - |
| Diphtheria | 3 | - |
| Measles | 4 | 1 |
| Whooping Cough | 9 | 2 |
| Influenza | 24 | 12 |
| Tuberculosis-Pulmonary | 70 | 76 |
| Other forms | 17 | 17 |
| Pneumonia | 64 | 54 |
| Diarrhoea (under 2 years) | 5 | 3 |
| Cerebro-spinal Fever | 2 | 3 |
| Puerperal Sepsis | 1 | 2 |
| Total | 199 | 170 |
(a) Smallpox.—Notification of 12 persons who had been in contact with
cases of Smallpox on board ship were 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 1942:—
Certificates of Successful Vaccination 1,229
Postponed 35
Conscientious Objections 552
Unsuccessful Vaccination 33
Left the District 117
(b) Scarlet Fever.-425 cases were notified in 1942.
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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1938 | 303 | 262 | 6 | 2.3 | 40 | - | - |
| 1939 | 370 | 283 | 4 | 1.4 | 53 | - | - |
| 1940 | 136 | 108 | 1 | .9 | 25 | 1 | .04 |
| 1941 | 182 | 141 | 3 | 2.1 | 41 | - | - |
| 1942 | 425 | 336 | 13 | 3.9 | 89 | 1 | 1.12 |
(c) Diphtheria.—39 cases were notified in 1942. There were no deaths
from Diphtheria during the year.
Diphtheria Immunisation.—As soon as births are notified, the parents
are circularised with regard to diphtheria immunisation facilities and this
has been carried out as a routine measure since 1929, when immunisation
against diphtheria commenced in this Borough. Consent to treatment
forms are available at all clinics, welfare centres and school medical
inspections. An intensified campaign was conducted during the year,
particularly during the Autumn and Winter months. Notices were inserted
in the local Press, and leader comment was also made. Repeated broadcasts
were made by the Chief Medical Officer to the Ministry of Health subsequent
to a broadcast by the Minister of Health. As a result of this, together
with the efforts of the Assistant Medical Officers at school medical inspection