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
Barking 1914
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Barking]
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26
Deaths from Zymotic Diseases.—These include: —
Enteric Fever, 1; Scarlet Fever, 3; Diphtheria and
Croup, 3; Diarrhoea and Enteritis, 30; total, 3.7.
All the rates are larger than in previous year.
The distribution of the disease over the year was as follows: —
| 1st Quarter. | 2nd Quarter. | 3rd Quarter. | 4th Quarter | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scarlet Fever | 26 | 30 | 27 | 79 |
| Diphtheria and Memb. Croup | 6 | 5 | 11 | 24 |
| Phthisis | 76 | 89 | 60 | 79 |
| Enteric | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Erysipelas | 15 | 5 | 9 | 18 |
| Ophthalmia Neonatorium Poliomyelitis and | 3 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| Meningitis | 1 | - | - | - |
It is seen that the increase in Scarlet Fever and Diphtheria
occurred during the last quarter of the year. A detailed inquiry
was made into the circumstances influencing the spread
of these diseases. The report is, however, too voluminous to
include in the present statement. The procedure relative to
the notification of these diseases is as follows:—On receipt of
information a member of the Sanitary Staff or the Medical
Officer himself calls and arranges for the removal of the patient,
by this means 148 out of 162 cases of Scarlet Fever were removed.
Inquiry is made relative to the health of all immediate
contacts, and in cases of poverty, should any further
illness supervene, the facilities of the Out.Patient Hospital are
placed at their disposal. All bedding is disinfected, and if
necessary the rooms occupied are stripped and re.decorated.