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 1928
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, Metropolitan Borough]
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75
CEREBRO-SPINAL MENINGITIS.
(Cerebro-Spinal Fever.)
Three cases were notified, but on further investigation the diagnosis in one case was not
confirmed.
Two deaths were recorded from this disease, and of these one was notified only at death.
Three cases, therefore, occurred altogether, with two deaths.
ANTERIOR POLIOMYELITIS AND POLIOENCEPHALITIS.
Two cases were notified. Both were admitted to Highgate Hospital. No deaths
occurred.
OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM.
Thirty-two cases were notified, which equals an incidence rate of 9'8 per 1,000
births. The services of a district nurse were provided in twelve instances. Six 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. | |||||
| 32 | 24 | 8 | 32† | — | — | — |
Includes 3 cases removed from the Borough before complete recovery.
In addition to the above cases, 19 cases of mild inflammation of the eye in the newlyborn,
not notifiable as Ophthalmia Neonatorum, were brought to notice by the London County
Council Inspector of Midwives or by Welfare Centres.
ENCEPHALITIS LETHARGICA.
Eight cases were notified, but on further investigation two cases were found to have
been incorrectly diagnosed. Nine unnotified cases were brought to notice during the year,
but of these only one was of recent origin. There were therefore seven genuine new cases
during the year. No deaths occurred.
PNEUMONIA.
This disease is a frequent complication of other diseases, but when occurring in that
manner is not notifiable.
The notifiable forms of Pneumonia are Acute Primary and Acute Influenzal Pneumonia.
282 cases of the former and 65 of the latter were notified during the year. If requested by
the medical attendant, a visiting nurse is supplied in necessitous cases at the cost of the Borough
Council. During the year 50 cases were nursed under this arrangement, 880 nursing visits
being paid.