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
Romford 1953
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Romford]
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the infection elsewhere. The usual routine precautions were put
into operation.
Although the total number of cases which occurred in this district
was relatively few, and, therefore, practically useless from
which to draw statistical conclusions, nevertheless, it is noticeable
that the proportion of non-paralytic to paralytic cases has risen. This
might be explained by the fact that more cases of indeterminate
illness, during an epidemic, are now being refered for investigation,
as possible cases of Poliomyelitis, and are subsequently being proved
as non-paralytic Poliomyelitis, and/or, it may be that the virus is
altering in type, and manifesting itself in a different manner. After
all, it is well known, epidemiologically, in another field that the
Haemolytic Streptococcus may manifest its attack on the human
body in several ways. To mention but two, in some instances it
may show with a rash, when the illness gets the name of Scarlet
Fever, or it may show as an inflammation of the tonsils, without a
rash, when it gets the label of Tonsilitis. It might probably be as
simple for us to talk of an Erythrogenic, and a Non-Erythrogenic
Scarlet Fever, as it is to talk of a Paralytic and a Non-Paralytic
Poliomyelitis.
(b) Acute Infective Hepatitis.
This condition continues to be notifiable throughout the
Eastern Region for purposes of research. Altogether, there were
41 notifications, and these were again forwarded to the Regional
Medical Officer at Cambridge.
(c) Diphtheria.
Once again there were no cases of Diphtheria during the year.
The following statistics relate to the state of Immunisation at
the 31st December, 1953. In addition to the initial series of injections,
"booster" doses have also been administered.
TABLE 14
| Under 5 yrs. | 5-15 yrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of children who had completed a full cause of Immunisation at any time up to 31st December, 1953, and who were born between 31st December, 1938, and 31st December, 1953 | 5,325 | 12,629 |
(d) Dysentery.
Thirty-eight cases of Dysentery were notified as belonging to
Romford. Twenty-nine were due to Shigella Sonnei, and nine were
unclassified.
(e) Food Poisoning.
During the year 10 cases were notified, which proved to be
suffering from food poisoning. In addition another 31 proved
indefinite.
The following table sets out the details, as required by the
Ministry of Health.