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 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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11
Smallpox
No case of smallpox was notified in London during the year. London has now
been free from this disease since June, 1934.
Cerebrospinal
fever
During the year 175 notifications of cerebro.spinal fever were received, but in
20 of these the diagnosis was not confirmed. Of the 155 confirmed cases, 65 proved
fatal. In addition, 28 deaths were recorded by the Registrar.General of cases
which had not been notified, making a total of 93 deaths for the year.
Encephalitis
lethargica
The notifications of encephalitis lethargica numbered 8, but of these 3 were not
confirmed. Of the 5 confirmed cases, none proved fatal, but 50 deaths were recorded
by the Registrar.General of cases which had not been notified, and 6 of cases
which had been notified in a previous year, making a total of 56 deaths for the year.
Poliomyelitis
and polioencephalitis
Notifications of poliomyelitis and polioencephalitis numbered 108 ; the diagnosis
was not confirmed in 12 of these. Of the 96 confirmed cases, 6 proved fatal. In
addition, 9 deaths were recorded by the Registrar.General of cases which had not
been notified, making a total of 15 deaths for the year.
The following table shows the age incidence of cases of cerebro.spinal fever, encephalitis lethargica, and poliomyelitis and polioencephalitis, including confirmed notified cases and deaths among unnotified cases, but excluding the unconfirmed cases:– Table 9
| Age periods | Under 3 | 3.5 | 5.10 | 10.20 | 20.30 | 30.40 | 40.50 | 50.60 | Over 60 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cerebro.spinal fever | 82 | 16 | 13 | 19 | 25 | 10 | 6 | 10 | 2 | 183 |
| Encephalitis lethargica | – | – | – | 1 | 14 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 55 |
| Poliomyelitis and polioencephalitis | 23 | 20 | 33 | 22 | 4 | 3 | – | – | – | 105 |
The following statement shows the number of cases, notified and confirmed and the number of deaths, including deaths among unnotified cases, recorded in the Registrar.General's death returns :–
| 1933 | 1934 | 1935 | 1936 | 1937 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nos. notified and confirmed | 203 | 124 | 89 | 99 | 155 |
| Deaths in the same year among | 90 | 62 | 50 | 52 | 65 |
| cases notified and confirmed Deaths among cases notified in previous years | 2 | 1 | – | – | – |
| Deaths among unnotified cases | 24 | 15 | 19 | 24 | 28 |
| Nos. notified and confirmed | 18 | 24 | 14 | 11 | 5 |
| Deaths in the same year among | 8 | 6 | 4 | 4 | – |
| cases notified and confirmed Deaths among cases notified in previous years | 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 6 |
| Deaths among unnotified cases | 31 | 27 | 26 | 49 | 50 |
| Nos. notified and confirmed | 60 | 65 | 82 | 37 | 96 |
| Deaths in the same year among cases notified and confirmed | 5 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 6 |
| Deaths among cases notified in previous years | – | 1 | 2 | 1 | – |
| Deaths among unnotified cases | 7 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 9 |
The number of notified cases of dysentery in 1937 was 916. ihe corresponding Dysentery
figures for the previous nine years were :–
1928 39 1933 31
1929 56 1934 58
1930 40 1935 199
1931 38 1936 304
1932 79