London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
City of Westminster 1942
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]
This page requires JavaScript
- 4 -
GAUGES OF DEATH (At all ages) Contd.
| Males | Females | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-pulmonary Tuberculosis | 5 | 9 | |
| Malignant growths | 70 | 141 | |
| Congenital debility) Malformation etc.) | 8 | 19 | |
| Old age | 4 | 7 | 11 |
| Locomotor ataxia & general paralysis | 4 | - | |
| Diseases of nervous system | 5 | 3 | 8 |
| Circulatory diseases | 166 | 172 | 332 |
| Bronchitis | 35 | 16 | 51 |
| Broncho-pneumonia | 30 | 17 | 47 |
| Pneumonia | 11 | 4 | 15 |
| Respiratory diseases | 3 | — | 3 |
| Alcoholism | l | — | 1 |
| Appendicitis | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Digestive diseases | 18 | 14 | 32 |
| Bright's disease | 12 | 10 | 22 |
| CyStitis | 14 | - | 14 |
| Accidents & negligence | 24 | 21 | 45 |
| Suicide & Murder | 6 | 6 | 12 |
| Other defined diseases | 1 | 8 | 9 |
| Ill defined diseases | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Parturition | — | 2 | |
| Other violent causes | — | 2 | 2 |
| Whooping cough | 1 | — | 1 |
| 474 | 413 | 887 |
INFECTIOUS DISEASE
| Notifications | Removal to Hospital | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polio-myelitis | - | - | |
| Encephalitis Lethargica | 1 | 1 | — |
| Diphtheria | 38 | 38 | |
| Erysipelas | 16 | 13 | - |
| Scarlet Fever | 59 | 56 | — |
| Enteric Fever | 4 | 2 | - |
| Puerperal Fever | 3 | 3 | — |
| Puerperal Pyrexia | 8 | 7 | - |
| Cerebro Spinal Meningitis | 9 | 9 | 1 |
| Ophthalmia Neonatorum | 1 | 1 | — |
| Measles | 192 | 83 | - |
| Pneumonia | 7 | 15 | |
| Dysentery | 14 | 6 | 1 |
| Whooping cough | 31 | 1 | |
| Smallpox | 1 | 1 | - |
A case of modified smallpox came to light in a young woman
on a visit to London from Glasgow where several cases of smallpox
occurred. The patient had been vaccinated in infancy and again on
the 7th July by the doctor attached to the factory where she worked
in Glasgow. The patient arrived in London on the l8th July, staying
in the Soho district. She woke on the 19th July with a swollen eye.
and a rash appeared on the following day. On the 21st July, the girl
attended the surgery of a medical practitioner in Soho, who diagnosed
smallpox which was confirmed by the Medical Officer of Health the
same day and removed to the London County Council's Smallpox Hospital
All contacts were vaccinated.
The patient subsequently recovered and returned to her home.
Non-notifiable diseases - removed to hospital
German Measles 8 cases
Chickenpox 19
Mumps 83 ,,