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
Merton and Morden 1939
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Merton & Morden]
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TABLE XXIX.
INCIDENCE AND FATALITY OF DIPHTHERIA, 1919-1939.
| Year. | Population. | No. of cases. | Incidence rate per 1,000 population. | No, of deaths. | Percentage of deaths to cases. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1919 | 18,100 | 26 | 1.3 | 2 | 7.6% |
| 1920 | 18,200 | 47 | 2.5 | 3 | 6.3% |
| 1921 | 18,000 | 28 | 1.5 | 1 | 3.5% |
| 1922 | 18,500 | 62 | 3.3 | 4 | 6.4% |
| 1923 | 18,750 | 39 | 2.08 | 1 | 2.5% |
| 1924 | 18,710 | 68 | 3.6 | 6 | 8.9% |
| 1925 | 18.960 | 25 | 1.3 | 1 | 8.3% |
| 1926 | 19,980 | 24 | 1.2 | 2 | 8.5% |
| 1927 | 21,850 | 29 | 1.3 | 2 | 6.8% |
| 1928 | 25,780 | 38 | 1.4 | — | — |
| 1929 | 27,430 | 53 | 1.9 | 1 | 1.8% |
| 1930 | 35,000 | 72 | 2.05 | 6 | 8.3% |
| 1931 | 41,610 | 80 | 1.9 | 6 | 7.5% |
| 1932 | 48,550 | 30 | 0.6 | — | — |
| 1933 | 52,130 | 35 | 0.6 | 1 | 2.8% |
| 1934 | 55,550 | 82 | 1.4 | 8 | 9.7% |
| 1935 | 57,440 | 44 | 0.76 | 4 | 9.0% |
| 1936 | 61,000 | 28 | 0.45 | — | — |
| 1937 | 65.530 | 22 | 0.33 | 4 | 18.1% |
| 1938 | 68,980 | 28 | 0.40 | 2 | 7.1% |
| 1939 | (b) 71,220 | 32 | 0.44 | 2 | 6.2% |
Anterior Poliomyelitis. Three cases of Infantile Paralysis
were notified during the year and received hospital treatment.
There were no deaths.
Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis. One case was notified in a
male child of 2 years who was removed to hospital, but succumbed
to the infection.
Measles. The incidence of this biennial disease was
again demonstrated by the downward trend of the number of
cases during 1939. The school returns show five cases only
against 403 in 1938. Under the Measles and Whooping Cough
Regulations 1939, Measles became a notifiable disease on the
23rd October, 1939, and to the end of the year five cases were
notified.
None died of this infection.
Whooping Cough. Whooping Cough, according to the
school returns, was more prevalent than in the previous year.
Two hundred and seventy-five cases were reported among school
children as against 44 in 1938. Under the above regulations
Whooping Cough became a notifiable disease on the 23rd October,
1939, and three cases were notified to the end of the year.
There were no deaths from this disease.
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