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 1938
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Battersea Borough]
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59
Full statistics for the year 1938 had not been prepared at the
time this report went to print, the last figures available being for
the year 1937, as under :—
Children whose births were registered during the year ended 31st December, 1937—
| Number of births registered | 2,773 | |
| Successfully vaccinated | 1,480 | |
| Insusceptible of vaccination | 9 | |
| Had small-pox | — | |
| Statutory declarations of conscientious objection | 719 | |
| Died unvaccinated | 151 | |
| Postponement by medical certificate | 39 | |
| Removed to other districts | 281 | |
| Removals untraced, &c | 77 | |
| Not yet accounted for | 17 | |
| - | 2,773 | |
Scarlet Fever.
The incidence of scarlet fever was higher in 1938, 254 cases
being notified as compared with 215 in the previous year. No death
was registered from the disease.
Of the cases notified 245, or 96.5 per cent., were removed to
hospital.
Particulars of the incidence of scarlet fever during 1938 and the five preceding years are shown in the following table:—
| Year. | Cases. | Houses Invaded. | Deaths. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notified. | Per 1,000 Population | Registered | Per 1,000 Population | Per 100 Cases. | ||
| 1933 | 826 | 5.36 | 726 | 6 | 0.04 | 0.73 |
| 1934 | 616 | 4.08 | 540 | — | — | — |
| 1935 | 417 | 2.81 | 361 | — | — | — |
| 1936 | 437 | 3-00 | 391 | 1 | 001 | 0.23 |
| 1937 | 215 | 1-50 | 200 | 1 | 001 | 0.47 |
| Average | 502 | 3.38 | 444 | 1.6 | 0.02 | 0.32 |
| 1938 | 254 | 1 79 | 227 | 0 | — | — |
The incidence of the disease was highest in Church, Latchmere
and Park Wards.
In 69 other notified cases (not included in the above totals),
the diagnosis of scarlet fever was not confirmed.
Diphtheria.
There were 217 cases of diphtheria notified (excluding 61 other
cases in which the diagnosis was not confirmed). There were 7
deaths registered as due to the disease. All the cases were removed
to hospital.