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
Hackney 1933
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hackney]
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110
Malaria.—No case of this disease was notified during the year.
Dysentery.—One case of this disease was notified during the
year.
NON-NOTIFIABLE DISEASES.
The following table shows the number of cases discovered by the Health Visitors and Sanitary Inspectors, or reported to the Public Health Department by the teachers of the London County Council schools, doctors requiring nurses for patients, charitable agencies, parents, etc. :—
| Month. | No. of Cases which came to notice. | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1933 | 1932 | 1931 | |
| January | 6 | 71 | 7 |
| February | 21 | 248 | 1 |
| March | 45 | 615 | 5 |
| April | 54 | 814 | 25 |
| May | 105 | 611 | 15 |
| June | 94 | 250 | 9 |
| July | 96 | 26 | 9 |
| August | 15 | 6 | 1 |
| September | 9 | 5 | 4 |
| October | 12 | 6 | 5 |
| November | 36 | 3 | 13 |
| December | 62 | — | 26 |
| Totals | 555 | 2,655 | 121 |
Measles makes its appearance in epidemic proportions in
alternate years, but, although an outbreak of the disease was not
expected to occur until the winter of 1933-1934, it will be seen that
many more cases were reported to the Public Health Department
in 1933 than in 1931.
No difficulty was experienced during the period under review
in securing the admission of cases of measles to hospital for treatment
although, as a result of the commencement of an epidemic
of this disease and the high incidence of infectious diseases generally,
the London County Council were compelled to limit the admission
of cases of scarlet fever as from 11th January, 1934.
The number of cases of measles admitted to the London County
Council's hospitals during 1933 was 90, as compared with 401 cases
removed to hospital in 1932.
Three deaths from measles occurred during 1933, as compared
with 50 in 1932. The mortality rate per 1,000 inhabitants in 1933
was, therefore, 0.01, as compared with 0.02 for London.