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 1924
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, Metropolitan Borough]
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55
OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM.
Fifty-two cases were notified or otherwise discovered during the year. This equals an
attack rate of 12-6 per 1,000 births. One child died owing to coincident bronchitis. Of the
52 cases, 27 were regarded as slight, 21 of moderate severity, and 4 were grave. Eighteen
cases were admitted to the special hospital provided for this disease—St. Margaret's, Leighton
Road ; 20 were treated at home with the help of a visiting nurse, and 14 attended the outpatient
department of hospitals. In 2 cases, the sight of both eyes was permanently affected.
Thirty-five of the cases had been born at home, and 17 in Institutions.
CEREBRO-SPINAL MENINGITIS.
(Cerebro-Spinal Fever.)
Three cases were notified, but on further investigation, two of these were found to have
been incorrectlv diagnosed. There was therefore onlv one definite case, and this proved fatal.
The following table gives the number of cases (corrected for errors in diagnosis) notified each year since 1912, when the disease first became compulsorily notifiable:—
| Year. | Cases Notified. | Deaths. | Case Mortality per cent. | Year. | Cases Notified. | Deaths. | Case Mortality per cent. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ACUTE POLIOMYELITIS AND POLIOENCEPHALITIS.
Six cases of poliomyelitis and one of polioencephalitis were either notified or otherwise
discovered during the year. It was subsequently found that one case of poliomyelitis had been
incorrectly diagnosed, and was not suffering from this disease. The case of polioencephalitis
proved fatal, and one case of poliomyelitis died, being complicated by broncho-pneumonia.
These affections are important, owing to the fact that long-continued treatment is
necessary in order to limit, as far as possible, permanent crippling and physical deformity.
During the year the Ministry of Health had under consideration the lack of facilities for
dealing adequately with the after-effects of these and other "crippling" diseases, and desired
information as to the prevalence of these conditions.
A special inquiry was therefore made at all the Infant Welfare Centres as to the number
of cases in attendance who were suffering from "crippling" diseases, and the following were
found:-
Poliomyelitis (Infantile Paralysis) 16 cases.
Paralysis (other forms) 6 „
Talipes and other deformites 25 „
Rickets (mild and severe) 71 „
From the information obtained,it has appeared to be necessary to make more adequate
arrangements for the residential treatment of such cases, and the London County Council has
now arranged for suitable cases to be admitted to Queen Mary's Hospital, Carshalton, where
beds will be available early in the year (1925).