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
Sutton and Cheam 1947
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Sutton and Cheam]
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be sustained by spray infections from the throat, or by food
contaminated either by the hands'or by the breath of infectious
carriers, or by an insect vector. It is possible that
susceptibility may be related to some biological influence.
No person over forty was a victim of the disease. Three of
the eleven women of child bearing age who contracted the disease
were pregnant. Severe fatigue, emotional instability and
intercurrent infection were factors which appeared to predispose
to infection, and precipitate illness.
The age and sex distribution of the cases was as follows.
| Age | 1-5 | 5-10 | 10-15 | 15-20 | 20-25 | 25-30 | 30-35 | 35-40 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Males | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 11 |
| Females | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 18 |
| Total | 6 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 29 |
The main deduction that can be made from this experience is
that the control exercised over the movements of persons who have
been in contact with a proved case of Poliomyelitis must be rigid
and exercised before the chain of infection has been established,
PNEUMONIA:- Of forty-two deaths occurring from all forms of
Pneumonia, one case was notified previous to death. The total
number of notified cases arising in the district was twenty-six,
NON-NOTIFIABLE DISEASES:- School teachers reported seven
cases of Mumps, one hundred and twenty-seven cases of Chicken v
Pox, and one hundred and three cases of German Measles. School
notifications are a useful index of the prevalence of non-notifiable
diseases, and form a basis for consultation with the School Medical ,
Officer.
SCABIES:- There was a considerable reduction in the incidence
of this parasitic infection of the skin. The treatment clinic
in St. Nicholas Road, Sutton, operated efficiently under the care
of Nurse James, and with voluntary help of Mrs, Berry, and dealt
with sixty-three cases, compared with one hundred and sixty-eight
cases in 1946, The number of attendances at the clinic was
two hundred and thirty-four, compared with six hundred and
twenty-five in 1946. The treatment Is by bathing and the
application of Benzyl Benaoate emulsion to the skin,
LICE:- There was a decrease in the number of cases of head
lice treated at the clinic, Thirty cases were treated during
the year, compared with sixty-seven cases in 1946, The number
of attendances for treatment was seventy-five, compared with
two hundred and fifty-four in 1946, The treatment of head lice
is by cleansing, and the application of lethane oil. This is
supplemented by the application of a hair cream containing
B,D.T. which helps to keep children free from infestation.
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