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 1933
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]
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As indicated in previous reports, preliminary testing is now only
carried out on older children or on those who arc definitely known to have
been exposed to diphtheria infection.
The following table indicates treatment given and the result of tests performed. Positive reactors received preventive treatment.
| Treated | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Positive. | Negative. | without lest. | Total. | |
| Under 5 years | 1 | 1 | 92 | 94 |
| 5 to 10 years | 4 | 2 | 15 | 21 |
| 10 to 15 years | 2 | 4 | 0 | 6 |
| 7 | 7 | 107 | 121 | |
Those not tested in the 5-10 years' group were mostly aged about
5 or 6 years.
The treatment was carried out without difficulty and with satisfactory
results. There was a high standard of attendance. As in previous years
over 10 per cent. of those who presented themselves for treatment had not
been vaccinated against smallpox.
75 cases received re-tests. Of these 59 gave a negative reaction six
months or longer after treatment. 12 were negative after a previous
positive result followed by an additional course of two treatment injections.
4 gave a slight positive reaction at the first re-test and received additional
treatment.
One must continue to emphasise the importance of obtaining a negative
result after treatment has had its effect, before one presumes that adequate
protection against the effects of any ordinary diphtheria infection has been
afforded.
Antitoxin, for use in cases of diphtheria, is provided free of charge
for medical practitioners attending patients residing in the City. The
supply is available on application at the City Hall and at the Coroner's
Court in Horseferry Road. It is apparent from the small amount
used (12 bulbs, each containing 8,000 units) that practitioners prefer
to send their patients at once into the fever hospitals, where antitoxin
is administered on admission to all cases of clinical diphtheria.
Enteric Fever.—There were 7 cases of typhoid and paratyphoid
which came to the knowledge of the department during 1933. Of these
3 were notified as paratyphoid and 4 as typhoid. Four cases came from
abroad, and no history was obtainable in 3 cases.