London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Ilford 1948

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Ilford]

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35
(c) Diphtheria.—16 cases were notified in 1948.
Fifteen cases were admitted to the Ilford Isolation Hospital and one to
the Eastern Hospital, Homerton, E. Fourteen were true cases of Diphtheria,
one was a "carrier" case, and one a case of tonsillitis. There were no
deaths from this disease.
(d) Ophthalmia Neonatorum.—4 cases were notified during 1948.

Of these 1 was treated at home by a private medical practitioner; 2 at the Isolation Hospital; and 1 at White Oak Hospital, Swanley.

CasesVision UnimpairedVision ImpairedTotal BlindnessDeaths
NotifiedTreated
At HomeIn Hospital
4134

(e) Enteric Fever.—Two cases of this disease were notified during the
year a female child of 8 years and an adult male of 28 years. The child
proved to be a case of Paratyphoid fever "B". The adult male was a case
of Typhoid fever. The patient, a cafe proprietor, had contracted the
infection abroad. Both patients were admitted to the Isolation Hospital and
made satisfactory recoveries.
(/) Acute Anterior Poliomyelitis.—Four cases of this disease were
notified during 1948. Three male patients aged 2, 13 and 33 years, and one
female patient aged 20 years. All were admitted to the Isolation Hospital.
The three male patients were all severe cases, being in hospital for 82, 105
and 124 days respectively. In the instance of the patient aged 13, transfer
to a Special Orthopaedic Unit for further treatment of extensive paralysis
of arms and legs was arranged. The patient aged 33 years had slight residual
paralysis affecting the leg and abdominal muscles, for which treatment was
continued at the physiotherapy clinic. The child aged 2 years developed
grave respiratory paralysis upon which extensive pneumonia supervened. It
was initially necessary to treat him in a "Both" mechanical respirator and
later the chest condition demanded the simultaneous use of an oxygen tent.
The necessary mechanical improvisation was made by Messrs. Oxygenaire,
Ltd., and a complete recovery, apart from slight weakness of the right arm,
ensued. Continuation treatment for this was arranged at the physiotherapy
clinic.
The female patient was a mild case and was only in hospital for 21
days, recovering completely with no residual paralysis.
The "Both" mechanical respirator (better known as the "Iron Lung")
again proved its value in treatment of two cases.
By courtesy of the Borough Council and through arrangements made
with the Central Office for Information, the Ministry of Health film
"Poliomyelitis—Diagnosis and Management" was shown in the Lambourne
Room, Town Hall, Ilford, on 20th July to the general practitioners of the
Stratford Division of the British Medical Association. The Chairman of
the Public Health Committee was present.