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
Tottenham 1955
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Tottenham]
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Details of cases admitted to and the hospitals to which they were admitted were as follows:-
| Hospital | Diagnosis confirmed and Cases treated to a conclusion | Diagnosis amended | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of cases | Average stay in hospital (days) | Number of cases | Average stay in hospital (days) | |
Diphtheria
There was one confirmed case of diphtheria in the Borough
during the year This occurred in a girl aged 9 and was diagnosed
as the result of a positive throat swab. Investigation of
the organism cultured from the throat swab showed it to be a nonvirulent
type There were no secondary cases arising from this
In 6 suspected cases the diagnosis was amended as follows:-
Tonsillitis 4
Stomatiti s 1
Quinsy 1
Measles.
There were 1,837 cases notified during the year. 63 cases
were admitted to hospital. Of these the diagnosis was amended
in one instance and one, a female aged 1 year 9 months, died from
broncho pneumonia complicating the illness, one day after admission
to hospital.
Whooping Cough
There were 98 cases of whooping cough notified during the
year. There was one fatal case in a child of 3 months complicated
by broncho pneumonia.
Polomyelitis
19 cases of poliomyelitis were confirmed during the year - 9
paralytic, 10 non paralytic.
This is the highest number of cases recorded in the Borough;
but compares favourably with the incidence in other authorities in
the London area.
During the year the North East Metropolitan Regional Hospital
Board set up a special poliomyelitis unit at St.Ann's General