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
Hampstead 1936
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hampstead Borough]
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130
Measles epidemics usually occur every two years in London, and
following the few cases in 1935, the disease was very prevalent this
year.
The two deaths were due to broncho-pneumonia in children aged
1 year 7 months, and 1 year respectively. One child was nursed at
home, but the other, who was removed to hospital, already had
broncho-pneumonia before the onset of measles.
The ward allocation of the cases was:—
| Cases per 1,000 population. | ||
|---|---|---|
| Ward No. 1 (Town) | 66 | 5·2 |
| „ 2 (Belsize) | 148 | 10·0 |
| „ 3 (Adelaide) | 99 | 8·7 |
| „ 4 (Central) | 70 | 6·0 |
| „ 5 (West End) | 211 | 14·7 |
| „ 6 (Kilburn) | 225 | 14·7 |
| „ 7 (Priory) | 99 | 8·6 |
The disease had its greatest incidence in the West End and
Kilburn Wards. It was least prevalent in the Town and Central
Wards.
An analysis of the cases notified shows the following:—
Adults 6 per cent.
Pre-school children 27 „
School children 65 „
Unclassified 2 „
and of the school children:—
50 per cent. attended Council schools in the Borough.
10 „ „ Private schools in the Borough.
5 „ „ Schools outside this Borough.
The tables below show how the cases were distributed in families
and houses:—
(a) No. of families in which more than one case occurred 135
No. of families in which 2 cases occurred 112
„ „ 3 „ 20
,, ,, 4 ,, 3