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
Paddington 1914
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Paddington, Metropolitan Borough of]
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51
ACUTE POLIOMYELITIS.
The notified cases comprised 53 in males and 88 in females. In 25 instances (13 in males
and 12 in females) the attacks were stated to have followed on injury. In 7 instances the part
of the body affected was not recorded, the remaining 134 attacks being distributed as follows:—
Head and neck 108 Males, 42 (7) Females, 66 (7)
Arm, hand 6 ,, 4 (3) „ 2 (2)
Trunk 2 „ 1 (1) „ 1 (1)
Leg, foot 18 „ 6 (2) „ 12 (2)
Note.— The figures in parentheses indicate the numbers of cases in which a history of a wound was obtained.
Thirty-two of the patients received institutional treatment, equivalent to 22.7 per cent., as
compared with 24.1 per cent. in 1913 and 16.2 per cent. in 1912. Twenty-five of the patients
were admitted to the Paddington Infirmary, 6 to various hospitals, and 1 to a nursing home.
There were 8 deaths among the 141 patients, equal to a fatality of 5.6 per cent., as compared
with 1.7 per cent. in 1913 and 2.6 per cent. in 1912. One death occurred in a patient who was
not notified, making a total of 9 deaths during the year.
Other Septic Diseases.— The deaths classified under this general heading totalled 17 last
year, the mortality being 0.12 per 1,000 persons, as compared with 0.04 in 1913 and an average
(1909-13) of 0.08. The numbers of deaths from the several diseases are shown below.
Other Septic Diseases. Deaths recorded
| 1914. | 1913. | 1912. | 1911. | 1910. | 1909. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erysipelas | 9 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 3 | 4 |
| Pyæmia | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| Infective endocarditis | 4 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 3 |
| Noma | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
| Carbuncle | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 |
| — | — | — | — | 4 | 3 | |
| Angina Ludovici | — | — | — | 3 | — | — |
| Septic pneumonia | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Cancrum oris | — | 2 | — | 1 | 1 | — |
The following figures show the mortality rates recorded in the different Wards of the
Borough:—
Other Septic Diseases: Mortality Rates. Per 1,000 persons.
| Queen's Park. | Harrow Road. | Maida Vale. | Westbourne. | Church. | Lancaster Gate, | Hyde Park. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West. | East. | |||||||
| 1913 | — | — | 0.09 | 0.08 | — | — | 0.12 | — |
CEREBRO-SPINAL FEVER.
During the past year 2 cases of posterior basic meningitis were reported (1 after death).
No case of the disease was reported in 1913, but 7 cases were reported (1 after death) in 1912.
The following particulars relate to last year's cases:—
R. P., f., æt. 2 mos., sickened 17-ii. 14, died in infirmary, 21.ii.14.
W. W. P., m., æt. 6 mos., sickened 28.iii.14, died at home, 28.iv.14.
ACUTE POLIOMYELITIS.
Three cases of the disease were notified during the year, as compared with 2 in 1913
and 6 in 1912. Two of the patients were admitted to the Metropolitan Asylums Board's