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

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Kensington 1929

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]

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70
Puerperal Fever.—During the year thirteen cases of this disease were notified. Two were
admitted to St. Mary Abbots Hospital after confinement, where they died. Nine were cases of
women confined in that Institution, seven of whom made satisfactory recoveries and two died.
Two were admitted after confinement to the North-Western Metropolitan Asylums Board Hospital,
where they made satisfactory recoveries.
Three cases were brought to the notice of the Public Health Department for the first time
after death had occurred.
Puerperal Pyrexia.—Forty-one cases of puerperal pyrexia were notified during the year.
Three occurred in maternity homes and one in a nursing home, twenty in hospitals to which the
patients had been removed previous to their confinements, and seventeen in the homes of the
patients; of these seventeen, eleven were subsequently removed to hospital for treatment, whilst
the remaining six received medical attention in their own homes.
Three of the notified cases of puerperal pyrexia proved fatal. Two of these were confined
at home and subsequently removed to St. Mary's Hospital, Paddington, and the North-Western
Metropolitan Asylums Board Hospital, respectively. The third case was confined in St. Mary
Abbots Hospital and died therein.
During the year, the Council retained the services of Dr. Remington Hobbs as their consultant
gynaecologist under the Public Health (Puerperal Fever and Puerperal Pyrexia) Regulations,
1926. Dr. Hobbs was consulted by local practitioners in thirty cases and visited four patients
in their homes. Twenty-one cases of puerperal sepsis were admitted from their homes to St.
Mary Abbots Hospital for treatment by him. For these services, Dr. Hobbs receives a remuneration
of fifty guineas per annum. Owing to the large amount of excellent work being carried out
at. St. Mary Abbots Hospital by Dr. Hobbs for the benefit of Kensington women in connection
with the prevention of disability following puerperal sepsis, the Council have made a grant to
him of £30 per annum, in addition to his remuneration as consultant gynaecologist, in order that
he may obtain medical assistance in the treatment of these patients.
Pneumonia and Influenzal Pneumonia.—There are many forms of pneumonia but the only
kinds notifiable are acute primary pneumonia and influenzal pneumonia. Two hundred and
sixty notifications were received, one hundred and fourteen patients being certified as suffering
from acute primary pneumonia and one hundred and forty-six from influenzal pneumonia. It
is certain that many cases escaped notification.
The number of deaths from pneumonia during the year was 257, and 153 deaths were certified
to be due to influenza.
Malaria.—Two cases of this disease were notified and investigations revealed that in both
cases the disease was contracted in India.

Encephalitis Lethargica.—This disease, commonly known as "sleepy sickness," was prevalent throughout the country in the year 1924, but since that year there has been a reduction in the number of cases notified. In 1929, there were only five cases reported in Kensington and the following table gives details:—

No.Sex.Age.Date of Notification.Result.
1.M.408th March.Still attending hospital.
2.M.3325th March.Died.
3.F.179th April.Died.
4F.4218th June.Still in hospital.
5.F.2526th August.Moved from Borough.

Poliomyelitis and Polio-encephalitis.—One case of poliomyelitis was notified on February
to the Public Health Department. The patient was a boy of two and a half years, who made a
complete recovery.

Cerebro Spinal Meningitis.—There were two cases of this disease notified during the year. Particulars are subjoined:—

No.Sex.Age.Date of Notification.Result.
1M.99th February.Recovered completely.
2F.5 mths.17th December.Died.