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
Greenford 1913
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Greenford]
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From the previous table it will be seen that we had a most unusual number of cases of this disease notified during the year. They occurred as follows.:—
| Month | Number notified. |
|---|---|
| January | 0 |
| February | 0 |
| March | 2 |
| April 1 | 0 |
| May | 2 |
| June | 2 |
| July | 7 |
| August | 1 |
| September | 4 |
| October | 1 |
| November | 2 |
| December | 1 |
| Total | 22 |
It will be seen by the above table that the outbreak commenced
in March, after which month we were not free from
the disease throughout the year excepting April—and that
it reached its height in July.
By referring to Table II. the ages at which the disease
occurred can be seen as well as the part of the District. It
will be noticed that the greatest number (16) cases occurred
in children between 5 and 15 years of age, and only one adult
was attacked also that all the cases occurred in Greenford,
there being none notified from Perivale or West Twyford.
On receiving the notification of these cases I at once
visited the premises, made inquires and gave instructions.
I also visited the local elementary Council School, and examined
the children, having previously notified the School
Medical Officer. I came to the conclusion that the outbreak
was not due to any local circumstances, but that the primary
cases were contracted outside the District—the disease being
very prevalent throughout the surrounding neighbourhood.
The disease was of an exceedingly mild type, none of the
cases being seriously ill, and removal to Hospital was only