London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

View report page

Camberwell 1935

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Camberwell.

This page requires JavaScript

88
Poliomyelitis and Polio-encephalitis.
During the year 5 cases of poliomyelitis were notified and
except in one instance the notifications were received after
admission of the patients to hospital. There was one death. Owing
to the serious after effects which frequently result from this disease,
all notified cases are periodically visited to ensure that they receive
remedial treatment if necessary.
Encephalitis Lethargica.
No case of this disease was notified, but one death was reported
of a case which had not been notified. Patients whose illness was
notified in previous years and who are still living in Camberwell,
as well as patients who moved into the Borough from other districts
are visited periodically for the purpose of rendering any assistance
which may be required. These cases numbered 19.
Dysentery.
One case of dysentery was notified during 1935. The diagnosis
was bacteriologically confirmed and the patient treated at home.
Ophthalmia Neonatorum.
Twelve notifications of purulent eye discharge occurring in
the newly born were received during 1935. In addition to these
cases information reporting 42 cases of slight discharge from the
eyes of infants residing in the Borough was received from the
London County Council. All infants with discharging eyes who are
nursed at home are visited daily by the health visitors to ensure
that continuous medical treatment is received until a certificate
of recovery is given. The necessary nursing attention is given
through the District Nursing Associations, and in 1935 612 visits
were made to the homes of 29 infants.

The following table gives particulars of ophthalmia cases notified in 1935 and the results of treatment:—

No. of Cases Notified.Cases Treated.Vision Unimpaired.Vision Impaired.Total. Blindness.Deaths.
At Home.In Hospital.
12*84101†

* One case removed from the district.
Certified cause of death 1 (a) Pyaemia, (b) Palpebral abscess.
Erysipelas.
There were 117 cases of erysipelas notified during 1935. The
majority of cases notified occurred in persons between the ages of
45 and 65 years. Of the 117 cases notified 73 were removed to
hospital. There were 3 deaths certified to be due to this disease.