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
Marylebone 1933
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Marylebone, Metropolitan Borough]
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33
ACCIDENT, SUICIDE AND MANSLAUGHTER.
Accidental or violent deaths during 1933 numbered 58. Of these 19 were due
to suicide. There were no recorded deaths of babies certified as resulting from
suffocation (overlaying).
PREVALENCE OF AND CONTROL OVER INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
A table showing, with regard to the infections, the total number of notifications
received, the age distribution and the number of cases notified from each of the
four registration districts will be found on page 65.
The following table shows the number of cases of infectious disease notified during the past six years:—
| 1928 | 1929 | 1930 | 1931 | 1932 | 1933 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smallpox | 30 | 3 | 6 | 2 | - | - |
| Diphtheria | 177 | 180 | 271 | 154 | 83 | 78 |
| Erysipelas | 67 | 40 | 61 | 55 | 55 | 76 |
| Scarlet Fever | 223 | 237 | 226 | 258 | 192 | 198 |
| Enteric Fever | 13 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 3 | 7 |
| Paratyphoid Fever | 10 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 2 |
| Continued Fever | 1 | — | -— | — | — | — |
| Puerperal Fever | 3 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 5 | 8 |
| Puerperal Pyrexia | 32 | 19 | 25 | 22 | 26 | 17 |
| Cerebro-spinal Meningitis | - | 3 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| Tuberculosis (Pulmonary) | 139 | 147 | 141 | 145 | 140 | 148 |
| Tuberculosis (Non-Pulmonary) | 22 | 26 | 20 | 17 | 23 | 16 |
| Acute Poliomyelitis | — | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — |
| Polio-Encephalitis | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Ophthalmia Neonatorum | 7 | 3 | 16 | 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Encephalitis Lethargica | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | — | 1 |
| Pneumonia | 44 | 92 | 42 | 80 | 77 | 74 |
| Malaria | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | 1 | - |
| Dysentery | 2 | 1 | — | — | 2 | 1 |
| Totals | 775 | 773 | 840 | 772 | 622 | 633 |
Diphtheria and Membranous Croup.
There were only 78 cases of diphtheria notified during 1933, 1 death resulting.
In 1932 the figures were much the same: 83 cases and 1 death being returned.
The number of cases per thousand of the population was 0.8 in 1933.
The cases were more or less evenly distributed, as usual, throughout the
borough, and only in a few instances was it possible to determine accurately the
source of infection. In 5 cases the source appeared to be a member of the family
previously infected; in 2 cases infection was counted to have been acquired in
school, and in 5 cases in an institution.
The number of swabs from doubtful cases submitted for bacteriological
examination was 654, a positive result being returned in 74 instances.
Of the registration districts, that contributing the largest number of cases,
naturally, since in respect of child population it is the largest, was Christ Church,
with 37. In All Souls the number was 9, in St. Mary 26, and in St. John 6.
As usual, the age groups 1—5 and 5—15 were those most affected, 31 of the
cases falling into the former and 25 in the latter group.
No application for a free supply of antitoxin under the Diphtheria Antitoxin
(London) Order, 1910, was received.
The nuisances detected during the course of investigating the notified cases
were : Dirty premises, etc., 5. These were all remedied after service of notices.