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 1956
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Coulsdon]
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WHOOPING COUGH.
There was a slight increase in the number of whooping cough
notifications received, i.e. 93 compared with 64 in 1955 and an
average of 110 per annum since 1941 when regular notification
became the practice. Cases occurred in every month but the
incidence was again highest in the summer months, with the peak
in June. Most cases occurred in Selsdon, and about two-thirds
were of school age with slightly less than one third under school
age. As three babies were under 1 year when they were infected,
it must be again emphasised that thIs disease can be very serious
in babies and early immunisation is strongly recommended. No
death due to whooping cough has occurred locally, however, since
the war years.
TUBERCULOSIS.
The following table presents concisely the position with regard to tuberculosis in the District during 1956:-
| Pulmonary | Non Pulmonary | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M | F | M | F | M | F | |
| Number of cases on register | 282 | 192 | 28 | 31 | 310 | 223 |
| Additions:— | ||||||
| New cases notified | 16 | 1 | 2 | 26 | 17 | |
| Cases removed into district | 21 | 13 | 4 | 2 | 25 | 15 |
| Restored | — | 3 | 1 | — | 1 | 4 |
| Total Additions | 46 | 32 | 6 | 4 | 52 | 36 |
| Removals:— | ||||||
| Deaths from T.B. | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Other causes | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Removed from district | 24 | 17 | 2 | 3 | 26 | 20 |
| Recovered | 24 | 13 | 5 | 3 | 29 | 16 |
| Not T.B | 2 | — | — | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Total Removed from Register | 58 | 34 | 8 | 10 | 66 | 44 |
| Number of cases on register, 1st January, 1957 | 270 | 190 | 26 | 25 | 296 | 215 |
Tables indicating the age groups and distribution of the new
cases are included in the Appendix.
The next table is helpful in showing the trend of this disease
in Coulsdon and Purley since 1915. Average figures for the 5 to
10 yearly periods indicated have again been used to level out the
fluctuations which are apt to occur between individual years.
22
The Rates given here and in the following notes are per 100,000 population.:-