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
Chelsea 1923
Annual report for 1924 of the Medical Officer of Health
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20
From the foregoing summary it will be seen that 4 deaths occurred
from this disease during the year in Chelsea, and one case has since been
reported as having died in April of 1925, which will be included in the
returns for 1925. Thirty-six visits ware made by the Woman Sanitary
Inspector during the year. There were 140 deaths registered from this
disease for London during 1924. The prevalence of Encephalitis
Lethargica in England and Wales has greatly increased as shown by
the following table:—
| England and Wales. Quarter:— | 1919 | 1920 | 1921 | 1922 | 1923 | 1924 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First | 283 | 268 | 952 | 140 | 448 | 760 |
| Second | 70 | 233 | 244 | 132 | 279 | 2870 |
| Third | 64 | 168 | 144 | 89 | 144 | 821 |
| Fourth | 121 | 245 | 130 | 93 | 154 | 615 |
| Total for Year | 538 | 914 | 1470 | 454 | 1025 | 5066 |
Encephalitis Lethargica was made compulsorily notifiable from
1st January, 1919.
Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis.
No case of this disease was notified in Chelsea in 1924. In London
there were 73 deaths in 1924 as compared with 58 deaths in 1923.
Polio-Myelitis and Polio-Encephalitis.
Three cases of Polio-Myelitis were notified in Chelsea in 1924. One
case was notified by St. George's Hospital in July and remained in hospital
until October and was then transferred to Queen Mary's Hospital;
now making slow progress. One case was notified in September and
removed to St. George's Hospital and died there; cause of death certified
as (1.) Polio-Encephalitis; (2.) Broncho-pneumonia. One case was
notified in November and removed to St. Luke's Hospital and died in
January, 1925.
From the above it will be seen that one death occurred in 1924,
and one in 1925, this latter will be included in the returns for 1925. No
case of Polio-Encephalitis was notified during the year. In London,
21 deaths from these diseases were registered during the year.
Puerperal Fever.
One case of Puerperal Fever was notified in Chelsea in 1924 and
removed to hospital. This case proved fatal.
Pregnancy and Parturition.
Three deaths occurred in Chelsea in 1924, one being from obstructed
labour, one from Eclampsia, and one from Heart disease. Two cases
attended the Ante-natal Clinic on two occasions.
Ophthalmia Neonatorum.
Five cases of this disease were notified in Chelsea in 1924 and all
were visited. In 1923, 5 cases were notified, and in 1922, 4 cases.