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
Ealing 1947
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Ealing]
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Other conditions present were:
Gastroenteritis 1 Impetigo 1
Pneumonia 2 Erysipelas 1
Abscess of leg 2 Otitis media 1
Leukaemia 1 Cellulitis 1
Two of the cases had been notified as poliomyelitis and smallpox
respectively. One case notified as chickenpox was diagnosed
as secondary syphilis.
Mumps.—91 cases of mumps were admitted. One developed
sub-maxillary adenitis. Two adults were admitted because of
complicating orchitis. Two cases had chickenpox in addition.
Puerperal Complications.—There were 3 cases of puerperal
pyrexia and one post-partum haemorrhage. All were mild and
recovered uneventfully.
Poliomyelitis.—There was an unprecedented epidemic of
infantile paralysis, most of the cases occurring during the Summer.
Of 61 cases, 27 occurred in the Chiswick and 34 m the Ealing areas. The accompanying diagram gives an analysis of the cases.
| Type of Disease | Age in Years. | Over 30 | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-1 | 1-2 | 2-3 | 3-5 | 5-10 | 10-15 | 15-20 | 20-30 | |||
| Abortive | — | — | 2 | 2 | 6 | 4 | — | — | — | 14 |
| Meningeal | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 4 |
| Spinal | 4 | 5 | — | 4 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 32 |
| Encephalitis | — | — | 2 | — | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 11 |
| 4 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 17 | 10 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 61 | |
There were 5 fatal cases, all children. 25 cases were transferred
to the National Orthopaedic Hospital (or its convalescent home)
at Stanmore for physiotherapeutic and orthopaedic treatment.
One adult is still awaiting transfer to Stanmore Hospital. One
adult was transferred to Royal Naval Hospital, Haslar for further
treatment.
One case notified as scarlet fever proved to be polioencephalitis.
Other cases notified as poliomyelitis were later diagnosed as:
Pyrexia of unknown origin 6
Pharyngitis 4
Laryngitis 1
Bronchitis 2
Tuberculous meningitis
(fatal) 1
Sinusitis 1
Tonsillitis 6
Cervical adenitis 1
Scarlet Fever 1
Gastro-enteritis 1
Rheumatism 1
No abnormality
detected 5