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
Finsbury 1949
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Finsbury Borough]
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43
SECTION F.
Infectious Diseases.
General.
The incidence of infectious diseases of all kinds has been very
low throughout the year, and there have been no outbreaks which
gave rise to any serious concern.
The Metropolitan District Nursing Association have in the
past undertaken visiting duties in connection with measles and
whooping cough. Owing to staff shortage they found it difficult to
continue these visits and in February 1949, the Council appointed a
part-time Infectious Diseases Visitor, which appointment was made
full time in May 1949. All cases notified were visited either by her
or a Sanitary Inspector and energetic measures taken wherever
indicated to ensure adequate treatment for the patient and the
minimization of the danger of infection to others.
Number of visits by Infectious Disease Visitor 820
Number of visits by Sanitary Inspector 33
The following table shows the cases of notifiable diseases of which information by notification or otherwise was received in the several age periods set out:—
| All ages | Under 1 yr. | 1-5 yrs. | 5-15 yrs. | 15-25 yrs. | 25-45 yrs. | 45-65 yrs. | 65 + | Total Remvls to Hosp. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acute Influenzal Pneumonia | 2 | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | 1 | - |
| Acute Primary Pneumonia | 41 | 2 | 14 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 6 |
| Dysentery | 2 | 1 | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | 2 |
| Erysipelas | 4 | - | - | 1 | - | 1 | 2 | - | 2 |
| Measles | 204 | 26 | 141 | 36 | 1 | - | - | - | 36 |
| Ophthalmia Neonatorum | 8 | 8 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 4 |
| Puerperal Pyrexia | 5 | - | - | - | 3 | 2 | - | - | 3 |
| Scarlet Fever | 40 | - | 23 | 15 | 2 | - | - | - | 25 |
| Pulmonary Tuberculosis | 91 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 31 | 27 | 19 | 5 | - |
| Other forms of Tuberculosis | 8 | - | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | - | - | - |
| Whooping Cough | 78 | 10 | 45 | 23 | - | - | - | - | 17 |
| Food Poisoning | 7 | 1 | - | - | - | 4 | 2 | - | 4 |
| Poliomyelitis | 1 | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | 1 |
| Scabies | 33 | - | 7 | 16 | 3 | 6 | 1 | - | 1 |
| Totals | 524 | 50 | 236 | 101 | 46 | 51 | 30 | 10 | 101 |