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
Islington 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington Borough]
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36
1937
Non-Notifiable Diseases.—3,356 cases came to the knowledge of the Medical
Officer of Health during the year, viz., 976 cases of Measles, 923 cases of Chicken-pox
not notifiable under the Chicken-pox (Islington) Regulations, 1930 ; 354 of Whooping
Cough, and 1,103 of other diseases.
The information respecting these cases was received from the teachers of schools
within the borough.
Exclusion of Scholars from Schools.—2,041 children were excluded from
classrooms of various schools owing to the presence of infectious disease, chiefly
Scarlet Fever and Diphtheria, in the houses wherein they lived.
The non-notifiable diseases among children attending the Public Elementary
Schools were
| Disease. | Notifications by Teachers. | Average of preceding 10 years. | Increase or Decrease. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Measles | 976 | 1,679 | -703 |
| Chicken-pox | 923 | 941 | - 18 |
| Whooping Cough | 354 | 600 | -246 |
| *Other Diseases | 1,103 | 1,670 | -567 |
| Total | 3,356 | 4,890 | - 1,534 |
| * Note.—" Other Diseases " include Mumps, Scabies, Ophthalmia, etc. | |||
Measles.—In December the Medical Officer of Health of the London County
Council circularised the Metropolitan Borough Medical Officers of Health in regard
to hospital accommodation for measles and other diseases. The working of this
temporary scheme did not materialise in Islington until the early part of 1938, and
will be dealt with in the report for that year.
Chicken-pox, Rubella ("German" Measles), and Mumps.—In these
diseases where either owing to the home conditions or the severity of the disease
there is need for hospital treatment, cases have had hospital treatment afforded them
on the recommendation of the Medical Officer of Health.
BACTERIOLOGICAL EXAMINATIONS, OTHER THAN FOOD.
Examinations numbering 2,441 were made in infections for the medical profession
of sputum, of swabs from the throat, and of the blood, of patients suspected to be
suffering from Tuberculosis, Diphtheria, and Enteric Fever, respectively.
The number is an increase of 59 on that of the preceding year and 365 below
the decennial average. Of the total examinations, 257, or 10.5 per cent., gave
positive results.
Tuberculosis.—509 specimens of sputum were examined, 48, or 9 4 per
cent. of which showed that the patients were suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis.
These are in addition to routine examinations at the two Tuberculosis Dispensaries.
Diphtheria.—1,914 specimens were examined for Diphtheria, of which 209
or 10. 9 per cent., were found to be " positive."
Enteric Fever.—18 specimens of blood were examined, none of which gave
a positive result.