London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Barking 1932

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Barking]

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65
(i) Puerperal Pyrexia.—Seven cases were notified during the year, of which
one was removed to hospital; all of the cases recovered.
(j) Erysipelas.—37 cases were notified during the year compared with 25
during 1931. Six patients were removed to hospital.
(k) Chicken-pox.—In view of the prevalence of smallpox in surrounding
districts, chicken-pox was made a notifiable disease in the district in April, 1928,
and continued to be notifiable throughout 1932. A total of 475 cases were notified
during the year compared with 333 during 1931.
Sex.—251 were male and 221 female.
Ki. NON-NOTIFIABLE ACUTE INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
(a) Measles, etc.—The most important of these are measles, whooping cough
and summer diarrhoea. Deaths registered were as follows :—
Measles 15
Whooping Cough 2
Summer Diarrhoea 11
It will be seen that the deaths from measles number fifteen, i.e., over a quarter
of the number of deaths from tuberculosis. Three times the number of children
died from measles than died from diphtheria, and these fifteen deaths from measles
contrast very unfortunately with the one only death we had from scarlet fever.
I have come to the conclusion that measles, whenever there is any doubt on
the issue as to if and whether it can or cannot be nursed at home, should always
lx' nursed in hospital.
As you know, it is not the actual measles which is the killing disease but the
broncho-pneumonia which complicates it.
\ou are willing to admit to Barking Hospital cases of measles complicated
with broncho-pneumonia.
(b) Rheumatic Fever.—Rheumatic fever, as I said last year, is a serious problem
in Barking.