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
City of London 1926
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London, City of ]
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Vaccination.—Of the 390 births notified to the Vaccination Officer during 1926, 103 had
been successfully vaccinated by the end of the year, 18 had died before the age for vaccination.
Vaccination was postponed by medical certificate in no cases, 192 had removed into
other districts, or the vaccinations were pending at the end of the year. There were 77
instances of conscientious objection. The Public Vaccinator performed 9 re-vaccinations
during the year, and in addition to the 103 successful vaccinations referred to above, 3
adult persons were vaccinated for the first time.
VACCINATION STATISTICS IN THE CITY OF LONDON.
| Year. | Number of Births notified to Vaccination Officer. | Successfully Vaccinated. | Insusceptible. | Had Small-pox. | Died before Vaccination. | Vaccination postponed. | Cases pending or removed at the end of the year. | Conscientious objections |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1921 | 341 | |||||||
| 19.6 | Nil. | Nil. | 9.4 | 0.6 | 49.9 | 20.5 | ||
| 1922 | 365 | 27.9 | ,, | 5.3 | 03 | 48.7 | 17.8 | |
| 1923 | 387 | 26.4 | 4.4 | 11 | 55.5 | 12.6 | ||
| 1924 | 418 | 27.3 | 0.2 | 3.3 | 05 | 50.3 | 18.4 | |
| 1925 | 330 | 26.9 | Nil. | 4.3 | 1.8 | 43.4 | 23.6 | |
| Average previous 5 years. | 368 | 25.6 | 0.04 | 5.3 | 0.9 | 49.6 | 18.6 | |
| 1926 | 390 | 26.4 | — | — | 4.6 | — | 49.2 | 19.7 |
Notification of Births Act, 1907.—420 notifications of birth, made in accordance with the
Notification of Births Act, were received. Of these only 75 belonged to the City, and the
balance were transferred to the appropriate Authorities.
Infant Welfare Work.—Miss Wilkinson, who undertakes the work in connection with the
Notification of Births Act and Infant Welfare, reports having made 201 visits in connection
with birth notification and 149 special visits in connection with infant welfare. In addition
to this figure, 63 visits were made to the homes of expectant mothers. Eleven visits have
also been made in respect of cases coming within the scope of the Children Act, 1908; mainly
in relation to nurse children. Sixteen visits were made in connection with verminous school
children. At the centre above referred to, a total of 750 attendances was made by
mothers.
Convalescent Homes.—A. suggestion of some value in Maternity and Child Welfare
work has been made during the year by one of the adjoining Metropolitan Boroughs. In
that Borough it is felt that the time is now opportune for the establishment of a convalescent
home, to be placed at the disposal of the several maternity and child welfare committees
operating in the metropolis.
So far as the City is concerned, active participation in any scheme of this nature does
not appear to me to be necessary, as by virtue of the several charities peculiarly associated
with the City, convalescent home accommodation is generally available for City residents
who require it. The Metropolitan Boroughs, however, are not so favourably situated,
and doubtless some such accommodation is urgently needed, especially in those
areas which include in their population a large number of the poorer members of the
community.