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
Poplar 1911
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Poplar, Metropolitan Borough]
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| No. | Date. 1911. | Age. | Sex. | Address. | Remarks. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Nov. 25th | 16 years | Male | Driffield Road | Patient had been drinking water at business (in Finsbury) connected with lavatory. Had also been burning trade refuse, and he had partaken of tinned salmon. |
| 9 | Dec. 13th | Male | Morant Street | Had been drinking impure water on board ship, the s.s. "Intava," from Natal, and was taken ill on board. |
63 cases of typhoid fever were notified during the year, but in many
instances no causes or predisposing influences were stated.
Errors in Diagnosis.
Three cases sent to various hospitals, 0 in Poplar, 1 in Bromley; and
2 in Bow were certified (see list pages 76-78) as not suffering from
typhoid fever—so that in the 63 notified cases, 3 patients were certified
from hospitals of the Metropolitan Asylums Board* as not suffering
from the complaint (see page 79).
Bacteriological Examinations of Doubtful and
Convalescent Cases.
Thirty-six specimens of blood from doubtful cases of typhoid fever
were forwarded to the Lister Institute of Preventive Medicine. In 18
instances (50 per cent.) the typhoid (Widal) reaction was obtained.
Deaths.
Nine Poplar parishioners died from typhoid fever, 5 fatal cases
occurred among the Bromley patients, and 1 among the Bow, making a
total of 15 deaths in 60 cases.
"Twenty-six cases were removed to hospitals of the Metropolitan Asylums
Hoard, and 32 cases were treated in other institutions.. (See page 118.)