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
Edmonton 1960
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Edmonton]
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SCARLET FEVER
There were scattered cases of Scarlet Fever throughout the year.
Despite modern drugs Scarlet Fever is still not a negligible disease and
complications still occur from time to time. Of the 71 cases notified, 38
were removed to hospital on the advice of their family doctor on social or
medical reasons.
TUBERCULOSIS
There was a sharp drop in the number of cases of pulmonary
tuberculosis notified and some part of this is undoubtedly due to the success
of the 1958 Mass X-Ray survey in detecting early cases. Vaccination against
tuberculosis (B.C.G.) is beginning to play a part in reducing the incidence
in the vulnerable 15-25 year group and those in middle life also showed a
reduction. Tuberculosis however, is still a hazard for all of us throughout
life and it still frequently occurs in families that do not expect it.
FOOD POISONING
There was no serious outbreak and the infections were confined to
single families. It is probable that the increased attention
that Inspectors have been able to give to food handlers and food preparing
premises has helped to reduce the number of food infections.
Tables T(l) and T(2) give details of the ages and sex of new cases of Tuberculosis, also deaths from the disease; this latter figure includes the deaths of non-notified cases.
TABLE T(1)
| Age Periods | New Cases | Deaths | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Respiratory | Non-Respiratory | Respiratory | Non-Respiratory | |||||
| M | F | M | F | M | F | M | F | |
| Under 1 year | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 1-5 years | - | 2 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 5-15 years | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | - |
| 15-25 years | 1 | 2 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 25-35 years | 3 | 5 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 35-45 years | 1 | 2 | - | 2 | - | - | - | - |
| 45-55 years | 4 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 55-65 years | 1 | 1 | - | 3 | 1 | - | - | - |
| 65 years upwards | 5 | 2 | - | - | 2 | 1 | - | - |
| Totals: | 16 | 14 | - | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | - |
In addition, 21 cases of Pulmonary Tuberculosis previously notified
in other areas, moved into Edmonton.
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