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
Penge 1946
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Penge]
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7
Water Supply.
All the houses in the district are provided with a constant service of water
by the Metropolitan Water Board, the water being examined bacteriologically
daily by the Board. In addition, the County Pathologist reports that the samples
of water submitted to him quarterly were good, Bacillus coli being absent in 100
c.c's. The majority of the premises are directly connected to the rising main.
Six storage cisterns were renewed, cleansed or covered and in one case drinking
water was supplied direct from the rising main.
PREVALENCE OF, AND CONTROL OVER, INFECTIOUS AND
OTHER DISEASES.
Diphtheria.
Eight cases were notified compared with 24 in 1945 and all received hospital
treatment. Seven of the cases had not been immunised. There were no
" return " cases and no deaths.
Diphtheria Immunisation.
The following table gives the attendances, etc., during the year 1946.
| Under 5 years | Over 5 years | Totals. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First inoculations | 152 | 4 | 156 |
| Second inoculations | 126 | 3 | 129 |
| Schick tests | 64 | 8 | 72 |
| Children who received complete course of Immunisation | 126 | 3 | 129 |
| Re-inoculations at 5 years of age | — | 17 | 17 |
Diphtheria Immunisation in Relation to Child Population.
Number of children who had completed a full course of Immunisation at an}' time up to 31st December, 1946.
| Age at 31/12/46 i.e. Born in year | Under 1 1941 | 1 1945 | 2 1944 | 3 1943 | 4 1942 | 5 to 9 1937— 1941 | 10 to 14 1932— 1946 | Total under 15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number Immunised | 3 | 177 | 226 | 159 | 207 | 614 | 699 | 1,995 |
| Estimated mid-year population, 1946 | 2,090 | 2,980 | 5,070 |
Scarlet Fever.
There were 15 cases of Scarlet Fever notified (a; against 14 in 1945) and 12
were removed to Hospital.
The disease generally was of a mild type. There were no deaths and no
" return " cases.
Scabies and Verminous Heads.
The directions contained in the Ministry of Health Circular 2831 were carried
out.
Patients and contacts (other than school children) who attended at the
Maternity and Child Welfare Centre for treatment for Scabies numbered 109
and received 293 treatments ; and 112 school children received 312 treatments.
Persons affected with head lice totalled 107 (of whom 88 were school
children) and they received 181 treatments.