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
Greenwich 1943
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Greenwich Borough]
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FOOD & DRUGS, ACT, 1938.
Daring the year 478 sample were submitted to the Public
Analyst for analysis Of these 109 were "formal" and 369 "informal".
The chief article sampled was Milk, 3 out of 116 samples were
adulterated.
FOOD POISONING.
There was only one case of suspected food poisoning notified
during the year. From investigations it appealed the patient was
taken ill at 5 a.m. on the 24th June after partaking of an evening
meal consisting of Veal and Hample, new potatoes and tomatoes
He was admitted to Hospital on the 25th June. Unfortunately the
case was not notified by the hospital authorities until the 30th
June when the patient was discharged, apparently recovered.
REVALENCE AND CONTROL OVER IN SECTIONS DISEASE.
The total number of infectious diseases notified, excluding
T.B. was 2,184 as compared with 1319 for the previous year. Scabies
which was added to the list of Infectious diseases notifiable.
on the 1st August was responsible for 263. Measles was prevalent
duringt the second quarter of the year, no less than 643 case? being
reported.
/
The following tables shows the age period of cases notified:-
| DISEASE | UNDER 1 Yr. | 1-5 Yrs. | 5 Yrs & UPWARDS | TOTAL | NO. ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diphtheria | 4 | 25 | 62 | 91 | 91 |
| Dysentery | - | 4 | 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Srysipelas | - | 22 | 24 | 18 | |
| Scarlet Fever | 4 | 100 | 199 | 303 | 281 |
| Enteric Fever | - | - | - | - | - |
| Puerperal Pever | - | - | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Puerperal Pyrexia | - | - | 4 | 4 | - |
| Cerebro-Soinal Fever | - | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Measles | 57 | 437 | 480 | 974 | 81 |
| Whooping Cough | 36 | 164 | 76 | 276 | 27 |
| Diarrhœa | 11 | 14 | - | 25 | 16 |
| Ophthalmia Neonatorum | 2 | - | - | 2 | 1 |
| Malaria | - | - | 3 | 2 | |
| Scabies | 10 | 35 | 218 | 265 | - |
| Pneumonia, Acute Primary | - | ||||
| or- Acute Influenzal | 7 | 25 | 175 | 207 | 140 |
| TOTALS |
Diphtheria Tmmunisation.
During the year 899 children were immunised under the Council'
scheme and by the school Medical Officer, making a total of
1765 cases completed as compared with 1897 for the previous year;
of this number 829 were under 5 years of age and 936 between the
ages of 5-14. 929 cases were given post-schick tests.
It is regretted that increased Propaganda, there still
appears to be a certain amount of reluctance on the art of parents
to take advantage of this scheme. This is reflected in the lower
number- immunised during the Year.