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

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St Pancras 1924

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

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58
OTHER NOTIFIABLE DISEASES.
Malaria.—Onecase was notified. The disease had origiually been contracted in Salonika
during the War. Arrangements were made for the adequate treatment of the case.
Dysentery. —No cases were notified; but information was received concerning a "carrier
case" who had been accidentally discovered whilst under treatment for another illness. A
bacteriological examination of the feces revealed the presence of the germs which cause this
disease (Flexner bacilli).
This form of dysentery, common in some parts of the world, was seldom seen in this
country before the Great War. Since then cases have occurred, chiefly due to infection
carried by persons who have served abroad.
The patient in the present instance was a child, and the source of infection could not
be discovered. The father had served in the air force, but had not been abroad, neither had
another soldier staying in the same house.
The patient was referred to hospital for treatment. Four deaths were recorded as
being due to Dysentery; but this does not relate to the tropical Forms of Amæebic or Bacillary
dysentery, but the more chronic form common in elderly persons.
No cases of typhus, cholera, plague, anthrax, glanders, or hydrophobia were notified.
WHOOPING COUGH.
There were 46 deaths from this disease during the year, and of this number 43 were
of children under five years of age.
Of the total 46 deaths, 22 were of males and 24 females. It is a curious fact, for which
no explanation is forthcoming, that whooping cough is the one cause of death which
kills more girls than boys.

The following table gives the number of deaths from Whooping Cough during the past ten years :—

Year.Deaths.Year.Deaths.
191552192060
191639192138
191727192229
191880192328
19197192446

Of the total 406 deaths in the past 10 years, 171 were of males and 235 of females.
DIARRHŒA AND ENTERITIS.
Sixty-three deaths were recorded during the year from the above causes. Of these 58
were of children under 5 years of age, and of this number 52 were under 1 year. Deaths
from these diseases are more numerous in summer and early autumn, especially if the weather
is hot and dry, and flies very numerous. Young infants are the principal victims, especially
if artificially fed, the infection being due to food contamination by flies. Breast fed babies
suffer to a much less extent.
The following table gives particulars concerning the mortality from the above causes
at different age periods, and the total rates of infant mortality from all causes during the past
10 years; —