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 1936
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Paddington, Metropolitan Borough of]
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20
TYPHOID FEVER AND CONTINUED FEVER.
Seven cases of typhoid fever and one case of continued fever were notified in 1936.
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.
All the cases received hospital treatment.
Two deaths from typhoid fever occurred dur ing 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 1,135 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.
1936. 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 | 4 | 187 | 242 | 270 | 214 | 118 | 61 | 13 | 9 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1,135 |
| Queen's Park | — | 32 | 27 | 25 | 63 | 20 | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | 169 |
| Harrow Road | 1 | 106 | 60 | 50 | 43 | 11 | 16 | 5 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | 304 |
| Maida Vale | _ | 43 | 63 | 18 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 1 | _ | 1 | 1 | 1 | _ | 154 |
| Town | _ | 1 | 3 | 11 | 16 | 37 | 14 | 2 | - | - | - | - | - | 84 |
| Church | 1 | _ | 32 | 72 | 26 | 15 | 4 | 150 | ||||||
| Westbourne | 2 | 2 | 31 | 63 | 33 | 20 | 14 | _ | 4 | 11 | _ | _ | 1 | 181 |
| Lancaster Gate, West | - | 1 | 13 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 3 | _ | 1 | _ | _ | _ | _ | 31 |
| Lanoaster Gate, East | _ | 2 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | 22 |
| Hyde Park | — | — | 1 | 20 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 40 |
Nine deaths from measles occurred during the year.
The Women Sanitary Inspectors visit cases of measles with few exceptions and arrange, where
necessary, for the attendance of the District Nurses.
The cases requiring nursing assistance during the year numbered 95 under 5 years of age and
26 over 5 years of age. The number of visits paid by the nurses was 1,058 and 357 to each group
respectively.
Three-hundred and five cases received treatment in hospital.
GERMAN MEASLES.
As is the case with measles this disease is no longer notifiable in Paddington. In the course of
the year 20 cases came to the knowledge of the Department through various sources of information.
Eight patients received treatment in hospital.
OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM.
This disease is notifiable in London under Section 192 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936,
the London County Council having by resolution made this section applicable to the disease.
Fourteen notifications relating to cases of purulent eye-discharge of the new-born were received
during 1936. All the patients recovered without any impairment of vision.
As soon as a case of this disease is notified, intensive efforts are made by the Council's Staff to
ensure that proper treatment is carried out. Daily visits are paid and private or charitable medical
treatment is invariably enforced. Where necessary the infant and its mother are removed to a hospital,
provision of this accommodation being ample. All necessary nursing attention is given by home
visiting on the part of the Paddington and St. Marylebone District Nursing Association.
In addition to true purulent discharge, 3 cases of slight discharge from the eyes of infants
reported by midwives to the London County Council were referred to this Department and received
attention, no doubt preventing the onset of the more severe form of the disease.
During 1936, 2 cases were referred to the District Nursing Association, 71 visits being paid.
Ten cases of ophthalmia of the new-born were treated in hospitals as in-patients.