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 1935
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]
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35
The deaths from whooping cough during the last five years are thus
set out:—
Table XXXIV.—Deaths from Whooping Cough.
| Under 1 year. | At other ages. | Total. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1931 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| 1932 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 1933 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| 1934 | — | 9 | 9 |
| 1935 | 2 | — | 2 |
Cerebro-spinal Fever.—3 cases of this disease occurred with
3 deaths.
Poliomyelitis.—2 cases occurred.
Chicken Pox.—194 cases occurred, 62 being moved to hospital.
Mumps.—272 cases were recorded, 39 cases being moved to hospital.
Puerperal Fever.—9 cases were notified. All 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:—
Table XXXV.—Puerperal Fever.
| Year. | No. of births. | No. of cases. | Deaths. | Death rate per 1000 births |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1931 | 1,211 | 4 | 4 | 3.3 |
| 1932 | 1,152 | 7 | 1 | 0.86 |
| 1933 | 1,099 | 4 | 1 | 0.91 |
| 1934 | 1,166 | 5 | — | — |
| 1935 | 1,042 | 9 | 1 | 0.9 |
Puerperal Pyrexia.—17 cases occurred, 15 being removed to
hospital.
Ophthalmia Neonatorum.—1 case only occurred in 1935. In
addition to this notified case, 7 cases of slight inflammation of the
eyes came to the knowledge of the department. Facilities are afforded
for the treatment of this disease by the London County Council at
St. Margaret's Hospital, Kentish Town, N.W. Mothers are also
admitted, and, if necessary, receive treatment.
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.