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

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Croydon 1924

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Croydon]

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8.—MEASLES.
Measles was considerably more prevalent than in 1923. 4
deaths were registered from the disease.
7 patients who could not be properly nursed at home were
admitted to the Borough Hospital on account of measles.
9.—WHOOPING COUGH.
Whooping cough was low in prevalence during the year. 3
cases were admitted to the Borough Hospital for treatment. 11
deaths occurred during the year.
10.—DIARRHCEA AND ENTERITIS.
This condition was not the cause of any extensive amount of
illness among young children during the year. 19 children under
the age of 2 years died of the disease. 3 children were admitted
to the Borough Hospital for treatment.
11.—OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM.
21 cases were notified during the year, and 4 of these were
admitted to the hospital for treatment. Admission was in all cases
to a cubicle in the Isolation Block (J), and mothers were admitted
with their children in order to avoid the need for weaning at so
early an age.
Further particulars in regard to ophthalmia neonatorum are
given in the maternity and child welfare section of the report.
12.—PNEUMONIA.
There was a marked increase in notifications of pneumonia,
and a considerable increase in deaths from this condition as compared
with 1923. The increase affected all ages, but chiefly
children on the one hand and adults over 45 years of age on the
other, and was to a considerable extent responsible for the increase
in the infant mortality, and the rise in the death rate in 1924 in comparison
with the exceptionally favourable experience of 1923.
REPORT ON A MILK-BORNE OUTBREAK OF SCARLET
FEYER.
In June my attention was drawn to a widespread outbreak of acute
tonsilitis associated with a few cases of mild scarlet fever of a somewhat
anomalous type. A close connection was traced between these and a particular
milk supply. It is desirable to place on record a summary of the
circumstances, and of the measures taken, which, happily, resulted in a rapid
termination of the outbreak.