London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Camberwell 1934
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Camberwell.
This page requires JavaScript
85
Encephalitis Lethargica
No case of this disease was notified during 1934, but one death
was certified by the Registrar-General to be due to encephalitis
lethargica.
All cases notified in previous years and patients who had
removed from other districts to Camberwell were visited periodically
for the purpose of rendering assistance to the patient and the family.
The following table provides information respecting the state of health of these patients at the end of 1934:—
| Number recovered | 4 |
| Number died | 0 |
| Number in L.C.C. Institutions | 5 |
| Number attending hospital or otherwise undergoing treatment | 13 |
| Number left district | 2 |
Malaria.
There was one case of malaria notified during the year. It was
ascertained that the patient contracted the disease whilst residing
in India.
Ophthalmia Neonatorum.
Twenty notifications of ophthalmia neonatorum were received
during 1934. Four of these patients were still under treatment at
the end of the year.
Information was also received from the London County Council
concerning 48 infants found to be suffering from inflammation of
the eyes.
These cases were systematically visited by the health visitors for
the purpose of ensuring that the patient received continuous professional
treatment until certified to have recovered.
The District Nursing Associations treated 30 cases of discharging
eyes in young infants, paying 639 visits to the homes for
this purpose.
Analysis of Cases Table.
| No. of Cases. Notified. | Cases Treated. | Vision Unimpaired. | Vision Impaired. | Total. Blindness. | Deaths. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| At Home. | In Hospital. | |||||
| *20 | 16 | 4 | 15 | 1 | – | – |
*Five patients still under observation. One of these patients has a scar as the
result of a corneal ulcer.