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
Wimbledon 1948
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wimbledon]
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WIMBLEDON INFECTIOUS DISEASES HOSPITAL.
On the 5th July, 1948 this hospital was transferred to the control
of the South-West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board, under the
provisions of the National Health Service Act, 1946.
During the period 1st January to 4th July, 1948, 89 patients
were admitted to the hospital—71 from Wimbledon and 18 from
Kingston.
The following table shows the diseases from which the patients were stated to be suffering on admission, and the number of cases in which the diagnosis was confirmed:—
| Disease | No. stated to be suffering on admission | No. of cases in which diagnosis was confirmed |
|---|---|---|
| Diphtheria | 5 | 3 |
| Scarlet Fever | 45 | 41 |
| Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis | 4 | 1 |
| Acute Anterior Poliomyelitis and Polioencephalitis | 3 | 1 |
| Typhoid Fever | 1 | — |
| Measles | 18 | 17 |
| Whooping Cough | 2 | 2 |
| Puerperal Pyrexia | 1 | 1* |
| Gastro-Enteritis | 1 | 1 |
| Mumps | 4 | 4 |
| Chickenpox | 3 | 3 |
| Other diseases | 1 | 1 |
| Healthy baby (admitted with mother) | 1 |
*Pyelonephritic abscess.
Diphtheria.
All the patients admitted to the hospital during the period
1/1/48 to 4/7/48 as cases of diphtheria came from the Wimbledon
area. Two of these were found to be suffering from tonsillitis: in
the remaining three cases the diagnosis was confirmed.
Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis.
In only one of the four cases of cerebro-spinal meningitis admitted
during the period was the diagnosis confirmed. One case was
diagnosed as pneumonia, and one as streptococcal tonsillitis. The
remaining case was found to be one of tuberculous meningitis. This
patient, a child aged two years, died three days after admission to
hospital.
Poliomyelitis.
Three patients were admitted to the hospital as cases of poliomyelitis.
One of the three patients was finally diagnosed as
suffering from polioencephalitis. In the remaining two cases the
diagnosis was not confirmed.
39