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

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Coulsdon and Purley 1936

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Coulsdon]

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menced in 1934, not continued in the first half of 1936 an even better
record could have been reported. In both these diseases a return to
a more normal incidence was experienced in the latter half of the year.
As it was, the incidence of Infectious Disease per thousand of
population fell from 4.7 in 1935 to 3.6 in 1936, thus comparing favourably
with the average rates of 6.7 for 1915-24, and 3.9 for 1925-34, while
even in the cases of scarlet fever and diphtheria the rates were well
below those for the country as a whole.

The following Table shows the number of cases notified, together with the number removed to Hospital, and the total deaths:—

Disease.Number Notified.Removed to Hospital.Total Deaths.
Scarlet Fever117102
Diphtheria35352
Typhoid Fever32
Erysipelas123
Cerebro-spinal Meningitis111
Puerperal Fever111
Ophthalmia Neonatorum1
Pneumonia13*18
Totals18314422
* Includes deaths from all forms of Pneumonia.

Further Tables (I and II) will be found in the Appendix showing
the ages at which the infection occurred, the municipal wards in which
the cases were resident, and the monthly incidence of the disease.
DIPHTHERIA.
The wave of Diphtheria which lasted throughout 1935, and resulted
in 52 cases, gradually subsided during 1936, there being 35 notified cases,
which were chiefly associated with one Ward of the District, and confined
to the first half of the year. In addition, 4 cases were admitted to
Hospital suspected of having the disease in which the diagnosis was not
confirmed, while one case was re-admitted after discharge, having been
found to be still carrying virulent Diphtheria bacilli.
Of the 35 notified cases, 3 were only "carriers" who were not
themselves suffering ill-health when admitted. In 3 instances two
members of a family were affected, in one case 3 members and in another
case 4 members suffered from the disease.
All cases were removed to Hospital, and unfortunately two children
died.
The nature and extent of the main outbreak was commented upon
fully in the Annual Report for 1935, hence further comments would
be superfluous.
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