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
City of Westminster 1927
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]
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Cerebro-spinal Fever.—One case only of this disease occurred, with
one death.
Polio-myelitis.—1 case occurred, with one death.
Encephalitis Lethargica.—1 case was notified, with 2 deaths during
the year, both males, aged 39 and and 61.
Chicken Pox.—206 cases were notified, 3 being moved to hospital.
Mumps.—153 cases were recorded, 6 being moved to hospital.
Plague, etc.—Intimation was received of two persons coming into
Westminster from places infected with plague.
Anthrax.—There were no cases in 1927.
Puerperal Fever.—6 cases occurred, with one death—5 cases
were removed to hospital.
The following table shows the number of births for the last five years, together with the number of cases of puerperal fever and deaths :—
| Year. | No. of births. | No. of cases. | Deaths. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1923 | 1,752 | 3 | - |
| 1924 | 1,624 | 10 | 2 |
| 1925 | 1,535 | 6 | 1 |
| 1926 | 1,606 | 5 | 2 |
| 1927 | 1,399 | 6 | 1 |
Puerperal Pyrexia.—26 cases occurred, 21 of these being notified by
hospitals and 5 by private practitioners. To the women concerned in the
above 26 cases (19 were married and 7 single), 19 children only were born ;
the remaining 7 cases arose from miscarriage.
The Public Health (Ophthalmia Neonatorum) Regulations, 1926.
These regulations have been in force since October, 1926, and under
them midwives are no longer obliged to notify, but they are obliged to
call qualified medical assistance to all cases of inflammation of the eyes.
If the medical practitioner considers the case one of Ophthalmia Neonatorum,
he must notify to the Medical Officer of Health.