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
Kensington 1964
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]
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57
Puerperal Pyrexia
During 1964, the number of cases of this disease notified was 86,
of whom 53 were persons normally resident outside Kensington. All cases
occurred in hospital.
In order to show some perspective in reviewing the incidence of puerperal pyrexia (defined as any febrile condition occurring in a woman in whom a temperature of 100.4°F. or more has occurred within fourteen days after childbirth or miscarriage), the following table gives an analysis of the causes of pyrexia in the notified cases:-
| Cause | No. of cases |
|---|---|
| Breast infections | 7 |
| Urinary infections | 37 |
| Respiratory infection | 5 |
| Genital tract infections | 6 |
| Post operative | 1 |
| Causes unknown after investigation | 30 |
| Total | 86 |
In addition to the foregoing, information was received concerning
31 patients normally resident in Kensington, who were notified as suffering
from puerperal pyrexia in other London districts.
No death occurred under this heading.
Pneumonia
There are various forms of pneumonia, but the only types notifiable
are (i) acute primary, and (ii) acute influenzal pneumonia. During the
year, 19 notifications were received, 17 being acute primary pneumonia and
2 being acute influenzal pneumonia.
During the year, the number of deaths from pneumonia (all forms)
was 69, and the number of deaths from influenza was one.
Dysentery
Thirty-one cases of dysentery were notified during 1964, all of
which were bacillary in origin, the majority being due to the Sonne
bacillus. Generally speaking, the cases were of a mild type and there were
no deaths. Eleven of these patients were treated in hospital.
Erysipelas
Three cases were notified during the year. There were no deaths.
Meningococcal Infection
One case of this disease was notified during the year and was
removed to hospital.
Malaria
Four cases of malaria were reported during the year, but
investigations showed that the patients had recently been abroad and
presumably had contracted infection overseas.
Poliomyelitis
No case of acute poliomyelitis was notified during the year.
The figures for the last ten years are as follows:-