London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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St Pancras 1922

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, Metropolitan Borough]

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The number of cases of typhoid fever, corrected for errors of diagnosis, which have been notified since 1913, and the number of these cases which have died, are shown in the following table:—

Year.Cases Notified.Fatal Cases.Case Mortality per cent.
191326623
191427415
191516831
191629517
191717529
191811545
19197229
19201417
19212628
19229111

ACUTE ANTERIOR POLIOENCEPHALITIS AND POLIOMYELITIS.
One case of poliomyelitis was notified in 1922, which recovered. There were two deaths
from the disease, both of which cases took their onset before the beginning of the year and were
never notified. The particulars were as follows:—
L. H., female, aged 11 months. Ward 8 (L). Onset 30th December, 1921, when arm was
found to be limp ; no other marked symptoms. Notified 31st December, 1921 (received 3rd January,
1922). Complete recovery.
F. Z., female, aged 4. Ward 7 (V). Admitted to German Hospital on 25th December, 1921,
with paralysis, said by parents to have begun on that day. There was paralysis of both legs, with
abolition of knee jerks, and paresis of the abdominal muscles. No other defects. Died in the
hospital on 18th March, the death being certified as being due to (1) poliomyelitis anterior and
(2) chronic bronchitis and spondylitis. Not notified.
D. G., female, aged 6. Ward 6 (J). The paralysis developed about March, 1920, all the limbs
being paralysed on the day after the onset of a febrile illness with pains in the head ; no incontinence.
The patient was admitted to the London Temperance Hospital, and there was gradual partial
recovery, the child being able to walk with the aid of a jacket. On 30th March, 1922, she was
admitted to the Great Ormond Street Hospital for acute dyspnoea, and died on 3rd April. P.M. :
Nil, except massive collapse and oedema of lung. Death certified as due to (1) infantile paralysis,
2 years, and (2) acute bronchitis. The case was not notified at the time of onset, nor was the
patient's brother, who is said to have had infantile paralysis at the same time, and now to have a
lame right leg.
EPIDEMIC CEREBROSPINAL MENINGITIS.
Five cases were notified in 1922 as suffering from this disease, of which one was found not
to be a case after admission to the North-Western Hospital (M.A.B.). There were two other
cases reported after death, but never notified, the total number of reported cases of the disease
in the year being six. All the cases were fatal. The particulars were as follows :—
W. B. 0., male, aged 2J. Ward 1 (D). Onset January 2nd. Malaise, followed by sudden
insensibility and convulsions, with extreme retraction of head and upper part of spine. No vomiting.
Knee jerks absent. Died at home January 3rd, within 12 hours of onset of acute symptoms.
Notified January 3rd. No bacteriological or P.M. examination.
S. F. R., male, aged 2£. Ward 1 (B). Onset December 10th, 1921. Vomiting, somnolent,
sighing respiration, internal strabismus of R. eye, head retraction, Babinski's sign doubtful. Died
at home December 29th, 1921. Not notified. No bacteriological or P.M. examination. Regarded
by doctor as a case of posterior basic meningitis.
N. L., female, aged fa. Ward 5 (Q). Onset January 5th. Drowsy, feverishness, vomited,
head retraction, muscular rigidity, especially in the neck, strabismus, screaming. Admitted to
London Temperance Hospital January 8th. Notified January 11th. Diplococcus intracellularis
found in c.s. fluid and grown in culture by Dr. Sanguinetti. Died January 21st. No P.M.