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 1952

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Paddington, Metropolitan Borough of]

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Table: Notifications.—Following is a table showing the numbers of cases of infectious disease notified. The actual number oi :ases after allowing for corrections of diagnoses is shown in brackets.

Notifications.—Following is a table showing the numbers of cases of infectious disease notified. The actual number oi :ases after allowing for corrections of diagnoses is shown in brackets.

Disease19481949195019511952
†Acute encephalitis (infective)—(—)—(-)1(1)_(-)_(-)
† Acute encephalitis (post infectious)—(-)—(-)—(—)1(1)—(-)
Acute pneumonia (influenzal)8(8)25(24)11(11)33(33)17(17)
Acute pneumonia (primary)59(59)62(62)41(41)57(57)60(60)
§ Acute poliomyelitis (paralytic)—(-)—(-)7(7)2(1)8(8)
§ Acute poliomyelitis (non-paralytic)6(5)35(32)6(6)3(2)3(3)
Diphtheria.10(3)13(7)4(-)2(1)1(-)
Dysentery13(U)14(10)22(22)110(109)16(16)
Erysipelas29(27)13(12)18(18)10(10)7(?)
Food poisoning or suspected food poisoning16(16)24(23)41(38)69(69)38(38)
Infective enteritis68(57)64(58)37(36)25(24)17(17)
Malaria3(3).»(2)1(1)1(1)1(1)
Measles1,027 (1,023)568 (567)944 (940)1,512 (1,511)1,092 (1,092)
tMeningococcal infection.—(—)—(-)3(2)3(3)9(8)
Ophthalmia neonatorum9(9)8(8)1(1)4(4)4(4)
Paratyphoid fever2(2)1(1)2(2)—(-)3(2)
*Puerperal fever1(1)—(-)—(-)—(-)(-)
Puerperal pyrexia20(20)18(18)90)44(41)87(87)
Scabies196(196)84(83)51(51)35(35)33(33)
Scarlet fever147(134)127 (123)165 (157)84(79)107(105)
Smallpox—(-)2(2)—(—)—(-)—(-)
Typhoid or enteric fever—(-)3(-)1(1)—(-)—(-)
Whooping cough254(250)131 (130)254 (253)294(292)113(113)

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INFECTIOUS DISEASE.—
* Ceased to be notifiable on 30.7.48.
f Notifiable from 1.1.50.
§ Not divided between paralytic and non-paralytic before 1950.
Bacteriological examinations.—The number of examinations made in connection with infectious disease was 333 (531)
including 15 (41) examinations of sputum for tuberculosis.
Routine examinations were also made of the water from the Council's swimming baths.

Table: Visiting.—The Lady Inspectors visit cases of infectious disease with the exceptions given below, and following isa summary of their work in this connection.

Visiting.—The Lady Inspectors visit cases of infectious disease with the exceptions given below, and following isa summary of their work in this connection.

DiseaseVisitsDiseaseVisits
Chickenpox190(403)Meningococcal infections23(15)
Diphtheria7(12)Pneumonia80(80).
Dysentery46(206)Poliomyelitis33(22)
Encephalitis—(—)Scabies and lice457(347)
Erysipelas11(17)Scarlet fever144(118)
Malaria1(1)Typhoid fevers4(5)
Measles1,170(1,660)Whooping cough180(351)

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In addition to the above 1,135 (726) miscellaneous calls were paid. Visits were also made to shops, outworkers
and aged persons as mentioned elsewhere.
Smallpox cases are visited by the male Sanitary Inspectors, food poisoning or suspected food poisoning by the
Food Inspectors, puerperal pyrexia, ophthalmia neonatorum and infective enteritis by the London County Councils
Health Visitors, and tuberculosis by the Nurses at the Chest Clinic.
Visits to cases of infectious disease paid by the male Sanitary Inspectors numbered 29 (193) all of which were to
smallpox contacts referred to us by Port Authorities or under the Aircraft Regulations.
During the year 331 certificates of inoculation and vaccination were submitted for the doctor's signature to be
authenticated.