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

View report page

Croydon 1908

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Croydon]

This page requires JavaScript

26
During the year, after admission to the Scarlet
Fever wards, it was found that several cases Whooping
cough, measles, chicken pox, and ringworm were
coincident complications of the disease, and, unfortunately,
during the latter end of April, Measles broke
out in the Scarlet Fever pavilion, and some of the patients
who were recovering from Scarlet Fever succumbed to
the attack after but a few hours' illness, which emphasises
all previous experience that post Scarlatinal Measles is
a most dangerous complication of Scarlet Fever the case
mortality from published statistics being over 14 per
cent. in such an event.
The infective condition in patients who either have
the true or pseudo bacillus of Diphtheria has been prolonged
owing to the existence of decayed teeth, and in
those cases where I have been able to remove the teeth
the bacilli have very rapidly disappeared. During the
year it was noted that in 73 per cent. of the cases of
Diphtheria decayed teeth were found to be present.
No case is discharged from the Hospital until such
time as all congestion of the throat or fauces has disappeared,
or where there has been any cough or any
discharge, such patient is not considered free from
infection until cured of these sequela;.