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

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Kensington 1931

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

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52
Puerperal Fever.—During the year, eight cases of this disease were notified. Three were
admitted to St. Mary Abbots Hospital after confinement and recovered; three were confined
in that institution, of which two made satisfactory recoveries and one died; one was confined in
Queen Charlotte's Hospital and recovered ; and one was confined in Fulham Hospital, but was
subsequently discharged and could not be traced.
There were seven deaths attributed to this disease, but in only two instances had a notification
been received.
Puerperal Pyrexia.—Sixty-one cases of puerperal pyrexia were notified during the year.
Three occurred in nursing homes ; 26 in hospitals to which the patients had been removed prior to
their confinements ; and 32 in the homes of the patients. Of the 32 confined at home, 24 were
subsequently removed to hospital for treatment, whilst the remaining eight received medical
attention in their own homes.
One of the notified cases of puerperal pyrexia proved fatal. The woman was confined at
home and subsequently removed to St. Mary Abbots Hospital.
During the year, the council retained the services of the late 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 45 cases. Thirty-four cases
of puerperal sepsis were admitted from their homes to St. Mary Abbots Hospital for treatment
by him. ,
Malaria.—One case of this disease was notified during the year, and investigations revealed
that the disease had been contracted in India.
Encephalitis Lethargica.—In 1931, there was only one case reported in Kensington.
The patient was a female aged 48 years. The case was notified on November 25th and proved
fatal.
Poliomyelitis and Polio-Encephalitis.—No case of poliomyelitis or polio-encephalitis was
notified to the public health department during the year 1931.

Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis.—There were seven cases of this disease notified during the year ; particulars are subjoined:—

No.Sex.Age.Date of notification.Result.
1F.1March 10th.Died.
2M.3818th.do.
3F.5May 4th.do.
4F.June 19th.do.
5M.14July 30th.Recovered.
6M.5November 30th.do.
F.8December 2nd.Died.

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
fifty-three notifications were received, 213 patients being certified as suffering from acute primary
pneumonia and 40 from influenzal pneumonia.
The number of deaths from pneumonia during the year was 232, and 64 deaths were certified
to be due to influenza.
Zymotic Enteritis or Summer Diarrhoea.—In 1924, the borough council adopted a scheme
for the control and treatment of zymotic enteritis or summer diarrhoea. The scheme has operated
during the summer months—in 1924, from the 1st July to the 30th September; in 1925-1929 from
the 1st June to the 30th September; and in 1930 and 1931, from the 1st July to the 31st October.
The council retain the part-time services of Dr. Ronald Carter, who has made a special study
of zymotic enteritis. Dr. Carter pays periodical visits to the various infant welfare centres, where
he is consulted in reference to difficult cases. He also sees cases in their homes which are not attended
by other doctors.
The following is a report by Dr. Carter giving particulars of cases of enteritis dealt with during
the year under review.
The summer last year was cold and wet, so that heat can scarcely be regarded as a contributory
cause of intestinal disease in 1931.
The council's scheme has worked quite smoothly, and there have been no complaints. The local
medical practitioners availed themselves of the help of the nurses iu 15 cases.