London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Holborn 1929
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Holborn Borough]
This page requires JavaScript
64
vaccination to prevent smallpox absolutely for a certain number of years, and to
diminish its virulence for a longer time.
We need not have the smallpox in London that we have to-day—all the
trouble, inconvenience and at times unpleasant illness so abundant to-day all
because people will not listen to what they are told by those who are competent
to advise.
Diphtheria.
We received notifications relating to 72 cases of diphtheria occurring in
residents in the Borough; of these one was sent in as being a "carrier" of
diphtheria bacilli.
Of the clinical cases of diphtheria all but one were removed to hospital. The
"carrier" was also removed to hospital.
| 0—1 | 1—5 | 5—15 | 15—25 | 25—45 | 45—65 | Total. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19 | 24 | 14 | 3 | 3 | 64 |
Two cases were notified as laryngeal diphtheria, they were 3 and 5 years old
respectively.
Two deaths occurred, one at the age of 2 years, the other at the age of 7 years.
Secondary cases were seven in number; details follow:—
| Primary Case | Ago. | Date notified | Secondary Case | Age | Date notified | Remarks e.g. Character of Premises |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J. R. | 5 yrs | 20th April | M. R. | 6 yrs | 23rd April | House let in lodgings |
| E. D. | 3 yrs | 17th May | P. D. | 1 2/12yrs | 25th May | House let in lodgings |
| P. H. B. | l 3/12 yrs | 13th Sept. | M. T. B. | 2 yrs | 16th Sept. | House let in lodgings |
| O. M. P. (Hospital Nurse) | 20 yrs | 21st Oct. | L. S.* (Patient) | 22 yrs. | 22nd Oct. | Hospital |
| M. R. | 6 9/12 yrs | 9th Nov. | J. R. | 2 yrs | 11th Nov. | House let in lodgings |
| W. A. | 39 yrs | 8th Dec. | H. A. | 3 yrs | 10th Dec. | Flat in Tenement Dwellings |
| — F. (Hospital Nurse) | 22 yrs | 31st Dec. | — w.* (Patient) | 30 yrs | 31st Dec. | Hospital |
*The secondary case occurred in the ward in which the primary case worked.
Two "return" cases were notified from the same family nine days after the
return home of the primary case from hospital.
Three cases of diphtheria were removed on the 31st December, 1928, and are included
because, for statistical purposes, the year 1929 commenced on the 30th December of the
previous year. The primary case (B.G.) is interesting as an example of recurring diphtheria.
This patient was first removed with diphtheria in January, 1927. B.G.'s second attack and
removal to hospital occurred in January, 1928. He was again notified for a third time in