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
Holborn 1913
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Holborn, Metropolitan Borough]
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19
SMALL POX.
There was 1 notification of small-pox in the Borough during the year. The
patient, an Italian, aged 26 years, was removed to the South Wharf, but was at
once returned home, as he was found to be suffering from chicken-pox. The doctor
who notified it wrote requesting the withdrawal of the notification and stated
that the patient was in a dark shed, and had only a tallow candle for light.
SCARLET FEVER.
Excluding duplicates, the number of notifications of scarlet fever was 131 in
comparison with 113 in the year 1912. Of these 58 belonged to St. Giles and
Bloomsbury and 73 to the Holborn District. All but 2 of the cases were removed
to hospital. The number of notifications was equal to 2.75 per 1,000 in comparison
with 3.89 for London. The average for the preceding decennium in the Borough
was 2.43 per 1,000. Five of the cases were nurses at hospitals in the Borough.
Errors in Diagnosis.
During the year 2 cases were returned as not suffering from scarlet fever, or
1.5 per cent. of the notifications.
Secondary Cases of Scarlet Fever.
Excluding the above 2 cases, of the remaining 129 notifications, 89 occurred
in houses in which there was no secondary case. In 6 houses 2 cases occurred, in
6 including 1 public institutions 3 cases occurred, in 1, 4 cases, and in a Boys'
Home 6 cases occurred.
Return Cases of Scarlet Fever.
Of the above 26 secondary cases, 6 were "Return" cases, i.e., cases which
occurred in a house soon after the return home of a patient from hospital. Of
the 5 infecting cases, 1, apparently, was the cause of 2 "Return" cases.
DIPHTHERIA.
The number of cases of diphtheria was 59 in comparison with 88 in the year
1912. Of these 28 belonged to St. Giles and Bloomsbury and 31 to the Holborn
District. All but two in each district were removed to Hospital. The notification
rate was 1.23 per 1,000 in comparison with l.70 per 1,000 for London. The
average for the preceding decennium for the Borough was 114 per 1,000. Four
of the cases were nurses at hospitals in the Borough, 3 being at the same hospital
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