Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Paddington, Metropolitan Borough of]
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22
Discharged, Cases.—The number of cases discharged during the year numbered 17. The reasons
for their discharge were as follows:—
Removal 2
Recovered permanently, after observation 1
Regarded as non-rheumatic after observation 1
Lapsed 0
Reached age limit 13
17
Social standard.—Of the 22 new cases, the circumstances of the home were reported as comfortable
in 18, and poor in 3. In 8 instances the presence of damp was reported to the Medical Officer of
Health.
Referred for treatment for active rheumatism:— | |
As In-patient, Paddington Green Children's Hospital | 3 |
As Out-patient, „ „ „ „ | 39 |
To own doctor | 1 |
Removal of diseased tonsils:— | |
As In-patient, Paddington Green Children's Hospital | 6 |
As Out-patient, „ „ „ „ | 2 |
Advised in new cases | 8 |
Home conditions referred to Sanitary Authorities | 8 |
Reports to School Medical Service | 15 |
Reports to Public Health Department | 18 |
Recommended free dinners | 2 |
Recommended and arranged convalescence | 2 |
Discharged | See above |
Home Visitors.—Much valued assistance has been rendered to the Centre by the work of the Women
Sanitary Inspectors. By means of their visits a closer touch is kept with the children than would
otherwise be possible. They are also responsible for the reports on the home circumstances which are
of great value to the Centre in its research work into the environmental causes of juvenile rheumatism.
During the year the Visitors have paid no less than 452 visits amongst the rheumatic children in
Paddington.
In conclusion I beg to express my great indebtedness to Dr. M. Llewellyn Davies for the very
able and willing assistance rendered during the year 1933.
CHOLERA, DYSENTERY, GLANDERS, HYDROPHOBIA, PLAGUE,
RELAPSING FEVER, TYPHUS FEVER.
One case of dysentery was notified during 1933, but there were no cases of the other diseases
included in the heading.
WHOOPING-COUGH.
This disease is notifiable in only two London Boroughs and not in Paddington. Since both the
cause of the disease and effective means for treating it are unknown it would not appear that notification
could assist very much in checking it. Whooping-cough is very infectious in the catarrhal stage,
before the characteristic whoop develops, and this adds to the difficulty in dealing with the disease.
In 1933, 5 persons died of whooping-cough, all being children under the age of 5 years. The
number of deaths in 1932 and 1931 were 13 and 8 respectively.
FOOD POISONING.
Section 7 of the London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1932, requires medical practitioners
to notify cases of food poisoning or suspected food poisoning. During 1933 17 cases of illness,
suspected to have been caused by food poisoning, were notified in the Borough. In no case was action
considered necessary as regards the source of the food supply. In most of the cases there was no doubt
that the illness was not "food-poisoning," but was due to personal idiosyncracy or to the results
of some dietetic indiscretion.