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 1930
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, Metropolitan Borough]
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87
CEREBRO-SPINAL MENINGITIS.
(Cerebro-Spinal Fever, Meningococcal Meningitis, "Spotted Fever.")
There were seven notifications, but the diagnosis of one was not confirmed. Two cases
died directly from the Fever, and one a few months later from Internal Hydrocephalus, as a
result of the Meningitis. One child has had a prolonged and unsatisfactory convalescence,
another a complete recovery, and a third case has removed to an unknown address.
In addition to these " notified " cases, two additional cases were brought to notice
on special death reports.
There were, therefore, eight cases altogether, and four of these died directly and one
indirectly from the infection.
ACUTE POLIOMYELITIS AND POLIOENCEPHALITIS.
Only one case was notified, and this was reported subsequently to be of a very mild
character.
| Form as Desired by Ministry of Health. | Additional Information. | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cases | Vision not Impaired. | Vision Impaired. | Total Blindness. | Deaths. | Incidence Rate per 1,000 Births. | District Nurse in Attendance provided by Borough Council. | Cases treated in Special Hospital provided by L.C.C. | |||
| Notified. | Treated | |||||||||
| At Home. | In Hospital. | |||||||||
| — | — | |||||||||
| — | ||||||||||
* Due to other causes. † Several cases removed. ‡ Excluding one case, information unobtainable.
In addition to the above, there were four cases of Mild Inflammation not notifiable as
Ophthalmia Neonatorum.
This disease is an inflammation of the eyes of newly born infants, resulting in a purulent
discharge within 21 days of birth. It has been compulsorily notifiable in London since 1911.
During the first few years the incidence averaged about 5 cases per 1,000 births in St. Pancras
Borough, by 1920 the incidence had reached 11, and this has remained the approximate
figure ever since. The rate for 193 is the lowest for a considerable period.
The disease does not appear to be as serious now as formerly. The high incidence
can only be explained by the alertness of midwives and doctors, who probably err on the side
of safety by notifying all suspicious cases. Out of the 31 notifications this year, 19 were
" slight" and only 1 was notified as being " grave." It is certainly better to err on this side.
The true condition is still a prolific cause of blindness. This is definitely seen in those countries
where Ophthalmia Neonatorum is not regarded seriously. In the past 5 years, out of 177
notified cases, we have had 2 cases where the vision was permanently impaired. "Without our