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
Enfield 1920
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Enfield]
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26
The mildness of the 306 cases of this disease which occurred
during the year may be judged by the fact that only one death
occurred.
This is an exceptionally low rate of mortality in this disease.
Diphtheria.
One-hundred-and-twenty-nine cases of this disease occurred during the year in 112 houses, as follows:—
| No. of houses where 1 case occured | 100 |
| „ „ 2 cases „ | 8 |
| „ „ 3 „„ | 3 |
| „ „ 4 „ „ | 1 |
| Total number of houses where cases occurred | 112 |
Total number of cases 129
Enteric Fever.
One case of this disease was notified during the year.
Poliomyelitis.
There were no cases of this disease notified during the year.
Cerebro-Spinal Fever.
There was one case of this disease notified during the year,
which proved fatal.
PREVALENCE OF, AND CONTROL OVER, INFECTIOUS
DISEASES.
Diphtheria.
This disease was considerably more prevalent this year than
last, this I attribute to the number of Diphtheria Carriers discovered
—24, and to the fact that there is a good deal of intercommunication
between this and neighbouring districts, where to my knowledge the
disease was more prevalent than with us.
As soon as a case was notified, I interviewed practically all the
contacts and took what swabs I thought necessary, and in this way
discovered the "carriers," a number of whom necessitated the
taking of quite a number of swabs before the cases were cleared up,
while in the meantime, I insisted on strict isolation of all such cases.
Diphtheria Anti-toxin is supplied by the Council free of charge,
and in addition to the Public Offices, supplies and swabs are kept at
various points in the district within easy reach of Medical Practitioners.
To indicate its use, I may say that no less than 164 bottles, each
containing 4,000 units were supplied during the year.