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 1934
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Paddington, Metropolitan Borough of]
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18
CHICKEN-POX.
Chicken-pox has been notifiable in Paddington since November 28th, 1922, but the sections
of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, dealing with disinfection, exposure to infection, etc., are
not in force as regards this disease.
During 1934, 333 certificates were received from medical practitioners. In addition 224 cases
were reported from other sources, making a total of 557 for the year. The greatest prevalence occurred
during the first half of the year, the cases for that period numbering 352.
Chicken-pox is not usually nursed in an institution, but 35 cases received institutional treatment
for various reasons.
TYPHOID FEVER AND CONTINUED FEVER.
Nine cases of typhoid fever and one case of continued fever were notified in 1934.
In cases where the diagnosis of typhoid fever cannot be made with certainty but there is a strong
likelihood of the disease being present, local doctors are encouraged to obtain early hospital treatment
for the patients by notifying them as having continued fever.
Eight cases of typhoid fever and the case of continued fever received hospital treatment.
One death from typhoid fever occurred during the year.
MEASLES.
This disease is no longer notifiable in the Borough, but the Order made by the London County
Council on 1st April, 1903, applying to measles, Sections 60-65, 68-70 and 72 of the Public (Health)
London Act, 1891, still remains in force. The Order enables local authorities to disinfect after measles
and to safeguard the public in several ways against spread of infection.
During the year 1,237 cases were brought to the knowledge of the Department through reports
from schools, parents, etc. In the following table these cases are distributed among the various Wards
of the Borough in four-weekly periods.
1934. Measles . Reported Cases. Four-Weekly Periods.
| Period No. 1. | Period No. 2. | Period No. 3. | Period No. 4. | Period No. 5. | Period No. 6. | Period No. 7. | Period No. 8. | Period No. 9. | Period No. 10. | Period No. 11. | Period No. 12. | Period No. 13. | Totals | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Borough | 37 | 100 | 331 | 332 | 161 | 153 | 54 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 38 | 10 | 1237 |
| Queen's Park | 3 | 5 | 67 | 72 | 10 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 158 |
| Harrow Road | 11 | 51 | 118 | 63 | 28 | 48 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 337 |
| Maida Vale | 1 | 2 | 29 | 65 | 33 | 38 | 9 | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | 182 |
| Town | - | 5 | 27 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 51 |
| Church | 5 | 6 | 34 | 73 | 48 | 17 | 15 | 2 | — | — | 7 | 30 | 4 | 241 |
| Westbourne | 10 | 21 | 48 | 40 | 31 | 32 | 13 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 5 | 1 | 204 |
| Lancaster Gate, West | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | — | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 20 |
| Lancaster Gate, East.. | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | 2 | 6 | |||||||
| Hyde Park | 2 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 13 | 5 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 38 |
On 28th February, 1933, the Council authorised the Public Health Committee to make arrangements
for the prevention of measles by the method of sero-therapy. Owing to the small number of
cases reported it was not until the Spring of 1934 that an opportunity occurred for putting the scheme
into operation. The results of this interesting experiment are summarised in the following extract
from a report made by the Public Health Committee to the Council:—
"We have considered a report submitted to us by the Medical Officer of Health on an attempt
to modify or control the cause of the measles epidemic by means of the preventive inoculation of
contacts. The report states that the work depends upon the fact that nearly all adults in urban
populations have had measles in childhood, and that there remains in the blood, even after many
years, a considerable amount of substance which is protective against the disease.
"If therefore blood or serum is taken from these adults and inoculated into contacts of the disease
in adequate amounts it is possible either to prevent the disease developing altogether, or to secure
the occurrence of merely a mild attack.