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
London County Council 1936
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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44
Active
immunisation
against
scarlet fever.
the adult staff of occasionally somewhat severe local reactions, insufficient, however,
to necessitate absence from duty.
Active immunisation against scarlet fever was continued during 1936 at both
Mayford approved school and Shirley residential school.
tion against the disease was commenced at that school in December, 1936. The results obtained at Mayford and Shirley during the year, and at Ongar during the final 3 weeks of the year, are shown below:—
| Mayford | Shirley | Ongar* | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average number in residence | 159 | 500 | 240 |
| Tested for susceptibility | 89 | 152 | 49 |
| Parental refusals | 25 | 2 | — |
| Number (and percentage) of susceptibles found | 34 | 75 | 8 |
| (38.2) | (49.3) | (16-3) | |
| Negative after normal course of injections | 12 | 26 | — |
| Negative after further injections | 3 | — | — |
| Left school before normal course of injections had been completed | 1 | 13 | — |
| Uncompleted at end of the year | 18 | 36 | 8 |
| Cases of scarlet fever— | |||
| Among those not tested or immunised | 1 | 1 | — |
| Among those tested or immunised— | |||
| Before completion of course of injections | — | — | — |
| After completion of course of injections | — | 1† | — |
| Negative after preliminary test | — | — | — |
*Immunisation commenced 8.12.36
†4 months after completion of course of injections
Vincent's
angina.
During the early part of the year 5 children from Leytonstone children's home
who were transferred to the Eastern hospital with measles were found to have
Vincent's angina. The medical officer of the home thereupon took swabs from all
those children who had unhealthy gums. Of these, 26, presenting varying degrees
of gingivitis or inflammation of the buccal mucosa, were found to show on microscopical
examination the organisms associated with Vincent's angina, i.e., spirilla
(Borrelia Vincent's) and B. fusiformis, some more abundant than others. In 4
other clinical cases no specimens were submitted for bacteriological examination.
In all, there were 30 children, in addition to those certified after removal to hospital,
who were reported to be suffering from Vincent's angina; 23 of these were treated
in the infirmary of the home; and 7 were removed to the Eastern hospital. MajorGen.
Helliwell, the Council's consulting dental surgeon, carried out an investigation
at the home, and arrangements were made for treatment daily by a visiting dentist
of those children who were retained at the home. The cases came from 5 different
houses and some of them, though not showing any clinical symptoms, continued
to be bacteriologically positive until late in the summer.
It is interesting to note that 4 children at Hutton residential school developed
Vincent's angina (throat), that one of these had been transferred from Leytonstone
and that the other three children were contacts of this child.
During the year 28 cases of vulvo-vaginitis were reported amongst the girls in
the residential establishments (excluding the remand home). Of these 28 girls,
14 were sent to hospital for observation, and 6 of the other cases were detected
after admission to hospital for other conditions. No evidence of gonococcal infection
was found in any of the cases. There were 59 cases of vulvo-vaginitis reported
from the remand home, all of which were removed to hospital. Bacteriological or
clinical examination revealed evidence of gonococcal infection in 19 of these cases.
Vulvovaginitis.