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
Battersea 1931
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Battersea Borough]
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| Name of Disease. | Age. | Total. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 5 years. | Over 5 years. | |||||
| Cases. | Visits. | Cases. | Visits. | Cases. | Visits. | |
| Ophthalmia Neon. & other Eye Aff'ns. | 103 | 2,466 | - | - | 103 | 2,466 |
| Measles | 1 | 7 | - | - | 1 | 7 |
| Whooping Cough | 2 | 8 | - | - | 2 | 8 |
| Diarrhcea & Vomiting | 2 | 8 | - | - | 2 | 8 |
| Chicken Pox | 3 | 25 | 2 | 28 | 5 | 53 |
| Pemphigus Neonatorum | 3 | 47 | - | - | 3 | 47 |
| Puerperal Pyrexia | - | - | 1 | 30 | 1 | 30 |
| Pneumonia | 34 | 481 | 52 | 943 | 86 | 1,424 |
| Influenza | 3 | 24 | 21 | 168 | 24 | 192 |
| Erysipelas | - | - | 4 | 73 | 4 | 73 |
| Totals | 151 | 3,066 | 80 | 1,242 | 231 | 4,308 |
The cost of the nursing service in 1931 was £143 12s. 0d. as
compared with £227 5s. 4d., in the previous year.
St. Thomas's Cornwall Babies Hostel.
The arrangements temporarily made in 1926 with St. Thomas's
Cornwall Babies' Hostel, with the sanction of the Ministry of Health,
for the provision of facilities for cases sent from the Borough
Maternity and Child Welfare Clinics for test feeding and the encouragement
of breast feeding amongst Battersea mothers, were
continued during 1931.
The results of the year's work have been satisfactory and are
summarised below:—
A. Test Feeds.
Number of cases, 226, comprising: Mothers, 226;
babies, 227. Number of attendances, 629.
14 of these cases received in-patient treatment.
B. In-Patient Treatment.
35 Battersea cases received, made up of—
12 mothers and 15 babies sent by Council.
3 mothers and 5 babies sent from other sources.
Period of stay.
27 cases sent by Council—12 mothers and 15 babies,
835 days; Average—mothers 27 days, babies
34 days.
8 other cases—3 mothers and 5 babies, 230 days;
average—mothers 7 days, babies 42 days.