Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, Metropolitan Borough]
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83
ERYSIPELAS.
64 cases were notified and 2 deaths occurred, as compared with 81 cases and 7
deaths during the previous year.
CEREBRO-SPINAL MENINGITIS.
(Cerebro-Spinai. Fever, Meningococcal Meningitis, "Spotted Fever.")
Six cases were notified and two died. In one case the diagnosis was not confirmed, and
in another case it was revised to Poliomyelitis.
ACUTE POLIOMYELITIS AND POLIOENCEPHALITIS.
Eight cases were notified. There were no deaths.
This disease, the popular name for which is infantile paralysis, causes paralysis of
certain muscles with resulting serious deformity. A very great deal can bo done for children
who have had this disease if they are placed under expert care, and if this is continued for
many years after the initial illness.
Every effort is made to follow up these cases.
OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM.
The number of cases notified was 27, and in addition 25 cases of mild inflammation of
the eyes were reported. Two cases moved out of the Borough and were lost sight of.
Twentv-three cases all recovered satisfactorily, without impairment of vision, but one
case resulted in total blindness. Further particulars are given on page 128 of Maternity
and Child Welfare Section.
ENCEPHALITIS LETHARGICA.
No cases were notified during the year.
PNEUMONIA.
This disease is a frequent complication of other diseases, such as Measles. When it
occurs in that manner it is not notifiable.
The notifiable forms of Pneumonia are Acute Primary and Acute Influenzal Pneumonia.
There were 150 notifications of the former and 79 of the latter, during 1937 (as compared
with 182 and 46 respectively for 1936). There were 26 deaths from these forms of
Pneumonia during the year.
If requested by the medical attendant, a visiting nurse is supplied in necessitous cases
at the cost of the Borough Council. In 1937, 35 cases were nursed under this arrangement
and 670 nursing visits were paid.
MALARIA.
16 cases were notified and there was no death. They were all old cases in which the
disease had been contracted abroad. Cases of Malaria diagnosed in the borough are notified to
this Authority.
Of the cases notified 15 were in-patients of the hospital for Tropical Diseases,
Endsleigh Gardens, and the remaining one was an in-patient of the Middlesex Hospital. The
home address of the latter only was in St. Pancras,