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
Stoke Newington 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Stoke Newington, The Metropolitan Borough]
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Influenza.—Influenza increased in prevalence during the earlier
months of the year. The older members of the community were
specially affected and there was a high death rate in the older age
groups from respiratory diseases following influenza.
Ophthalmia Neonatorium.—Two cases of this disease were
notified during the year ; these were mild cases and responded
readily to treatment, with no resulting impairment of vision.
The particulars of the cases notified, as required by the Ministry of Health, are set out in the following Table:—
| Notified | Cases Treated | Vision unimpaired | Vision impaired | Total Blindness | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| At Home | In Hospital | |||||
| 2 | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | |
Encephalitis Lethargica.—No notification of this disease was
received during the year.
Poliomyelitis.—One case (a child aged 3 years) was notified.
The diagnosis was confirmed in hospital and the patient made a
successful but slow recovery. No notification of this disease was
received the previous year.
Erysipelas.—28 cases of this disease were notified during the
year as compared with 19 in 1936.
Meningococcal Meningitis.—Two cases were notified, one of
whom (a woman aged 50 years) died in hospital, the other, a child
aged one year made a successful recovery.
No notification of this disease was received the previous year.
Dysentery.—During the autumn months there was increased
prevalence of infective enteritis due to the Sonne Bacillus and 12
notifications of this type of Dysentery were received. Two children
suffering from this disease were treated in isolation hospitals. The
other cases received private medical treatment in their homes. The
disease was generally of a mild type and there were no fatalities.
Routine inquiry was made into the history of each case but it
was not possible to single out any specific article of food or drink
as being responsible for the infection.
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