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
Coulsdon and Purley 1938
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Coulsdon]
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INFECTIOUS DISEASE.
The year 1938 compared very favourably with preceding years
from the point of view of notifiable Infectious Disease, with a total
of only 120 notified cases, other than tuberculosis, compared with 154,
183 and 230 in the three preceding years. This number represents the
lowest number of notifications since 1932, and when the increasing
population is taken into consideration, it will be found that the incidence
of Infectious Disease was the lowest the District has ever experienced.
The number of cases per thousand of population fell from an average
of 6.7 in 1915-24 to an average of 3.9 in 1925-34. In 1935 it was 4.7,
falling to 3.6 and 2.8 in the following years, while in 1938 it was less
than 2.1, representing a very marked reduction.
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 Fever | 71 | 59 | - |
| Diphtheria | 10 | 10 | - |
| Enteric Fever | 5 | 1 | - |
| Erysipelas | 13 | 1 | - |
| Puerperal Pyrexia | 5 | 5 | - |
| Ophthalmia Neonatorum | 1 | 1 | - |
| Pneumonia | 12 | - | *15 |
| Dysentery | 2 | — | — |
| Acute Poliomyelitis | 1 | 1 | - |
| Totals | 120 | 78 | 15 |
* 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.
17