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
St Pancras 1905
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, London, Borough of]
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65
III.—INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
§ 1.—DISCOVERY AND DIAGNOSIS.
It is well to know that unrecognised cases largely spread infectious diseases.
Discovery.—Mild cases of indisposition or disease excite no particular attention
or are attributed to other than the real cause by parents, guardians, or friends,
and are not submitted to medical examination. When cases of suspected
infectious diseases are discovered there is sometimes considerable difficulty and
delay in making an exact medical diagnosis in certain types of the diseases.
Here bacteriological and additional clinical examination arc brought to bear
upon doubtful types, and to check or confirm the diagnosis.
| Bacillus found. | Doubtful. | Bacillus not found. | Total. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diphtheria (Secretion) | 24 | 67 | 91 | |
| Reaction obtained. | Doubtful. | Reaction not obtained. | Total. | |
| Typhoid (Blood) | 21 | 5 | 23 | 49 |
| Bacillus found. | Doubtful. | Bacillus not found. | Total. | |
| Tuberculosis (Sputum) | 11 | 21 | 32 |
Infectious Diseases fall into four categories—
(a) Permanent compulsorily notifiable diseases,
(b) Voluntarily notifiable diseases,
(c) Temporarily compulsorily notifiable diseases, and
(d) Non-notifiable diseases.