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 1927
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, Metropolitan Borough]
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66
ANTHRAX.
One case of this disease was notified. It occurred in a man employed by a firm of
taxidermists, who were dealing with the carcases of two elephants, which were subsequently
discovered to have died of the disease. As soon as this information was received the remains
of the elephants were destroyed, and all persons who had handled them were kept under
observation. The case in question developed a week later, and the patient was immediately
given a dose of serum and sent to St. Thomas's Hospital, where he recovered. The elephants
died at the gardens of the Zoological Society of London. It was not discovered how they
became infected.
CEREBROSPINAL MENINGITIS.
(Cerebro-spinal Fever.)
Three cases were notified, and in each case the diagnosis was confirmed by bacteriological
examination. One case proved fatal. The existence of two other (unnotified) cases
was disclosed by death reports.
ANTERIOR POLIOMYELITIS AND POLIOENCEPHALITIS.
Three cases were notified. One proved fatal in a few days, and of the other two, one
was first admitted to Highgate Hospital, and both finally received treatment in the special
hospitals provided by the Metropolitan Asylums Board.
OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM.
Thirty-eight cases were notified, which equals an incidence rate of 11.5 per 1,000
births. The services of a district nurse were provided in eleven instances. Five cases were
admitted to the special hospital provided for the treatment of this disease.
The following table gives details concerning the cases in the form desired by the Ministry of Health: —
| Cases. | Vision not Impaired. | Vision Impaired. | Total Blindness. | Deaths. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notified. | Treated. | |||||
| At Home. | In Hospital. | |||||
| 38 | 27 | 11 | 37† | l | 0 | 1* |
| * From other causes. | ||||||
| † Includes 4 cases removed from the Borough before complete recovery. | ||||||
In addition to the above cases, nine cases of mild inflammation of the eye in the newlyborn,
not notifiable as Ophthalmia Neonatorum, were brought to notice by the London County
Council or by Welfare Centres.
ENCEPHALITIS LETHARGICA.
Nine cases were notified, but on further investigation two cases were found to have
been incorrectly diagnosed. There were therefore seven genuine new cases during the year.
Of these two died from the disease and one from other causes. One case has moved to an
unknown address, and the remainder were found to have made fair recoveries when visited
recently.