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
Wanstead and Woodford 1914
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wanstead]
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Table A.—
| The following Zymotic Diseases were notified. | Small Pox | | Diphtheria | Scarlet Fever | Erysipelas | Varicella | Enteric Fever | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wanstead | — | 9 | 29 | 9 | 47 | 2 | 96 |
| Infant Orphan Asylum | — | 3 | — | — | 48 | — | 51 |
| Aldersbrook and Cottage Homes | — | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | — | 8 |
| 15 | 32 | 11 | 95 | 2 | 155 |
DIPHTHERIA antitoxin is always kept available for medical men in
special cases, and swabs are submitted to the C.M.O. for a bacteriological
report by arrangement with the M.O.H.
The importance of taking early swabs in cases of suspicioi s
Diphtheria cannot be over-estimated and no doubtful case should be
removed to hospital before a positive swab has been taken.
Five times last year I was asked to remove cases to hospital that
were not diphtheria.
On the other hand three cases were removed from one house at
different dates in a short interval with diphtheria, and it was ascertained
that another child had been suffering from a slight sore throat ten days
before the first case was admitted. Upon my request a cultivation was
taken of the first case and it was then found that this child also was
suffering from diphtheria and had to be removed to hospital. Had the
first case been recognised it would probably have ended there.
Table B.—TUBERCULOSIS. The following notifications were received during the year;—
| Public Health (Tuberculosis) Regulations — 1912. — | Pulmonary Tuberculosis. | Other forms of Tuberculosis. | Total number of notifications received. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Notifications Beceived | 20 | 8 | 28 |
| Dual Notifications | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Total | 23 | 9 | 32 |