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
Willesden 1932
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Willesden]
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Other Diseases.
Ninety-eight patients were admitted under this heading as follows:—
| Tonsillitis | 30 | Cellulitis | 1 |
| Rubella | 9 | Meningitis | 1 |
| Chicken-Pox | 7 | Meningismus | 1 |
| Ophthalmia Neonatorum | 7 | Encephalitis Lethargica | 1 |
| Enteritis | 4 | Anterior Poliomyelitis | 1 |
| Marasmus | 3 | Adenitis | 1 |
| Laryngitis | 3 | Bronchitis | 1 |
| Pneumonia | 3 | Food Rash | 1 |
| Mumps | 3 | Vincents Angina | 1 |
| Tubercular Meningitis | 2 | Stomatitis | 1 |
| Rhinitis | 2 | Septicaemia | 1 |
| Otitis Media | 2 | Dysidrosis | 1 |
| Rheumatic Fever | 2 | Herpes | 1 |
| Septic Rash | 2 | Malignant Endocarditis | 1 |
| Teething Rash | 2 | Negative Case | 1 |
| Influenza | 2 | ||
| Ten deaths occurred:— | |||
| Tubercular Meningitis | 2 | Septicaemia | 1 |
| Pneumonia | 2 | Malignant Endocarditis | 1 |
| Marasmus | 2 | Meningitis | 1 |
| Encephalitis Lethargica | 1 |
The two cases of marasmus were admitted from another Institution in the district as diphtheria
carriers.
Sick Staff.
The following are the figures for the past four years for the Nursing Staff:—
| Number of Nurses who were off duty for 24 hours or more. | Number of days off duty. | |
|---|---|---|
| 1929 | 24 | 373 |
| 1930 | 31 | 521 |
| 1931 | 33 | 483 |
| 1932 | 28 | 348 |
The health of the Domestic Staff has been satisfactory. No cases of infectious diseases occurred.
Duration of Stay in Hospital.
(1) Scarlet Fever.
The average length of detention of scarlet fever patients shows a slight decrease this year
as compared with last year, and a marked decrease as compared with the year 1926. The minimum
period of stay in hospital is 28 days from the onset of illness, and 267 patients out of a total of 346,
or 77-2 per cent., were discharged between the 28th and 35th day.
Average stay in hospital of scarlet fever patients during recent years:—
1926—47.2 1931—34.5
1928—37.0 1932—33.5
(2) Diphtheria.
Average stay in hospital of diphtheria patients, 1929-1932:—
1929—51.7 1931—56.2
1930—53.3 1932—45.6
(3) Other Diseases.
Average stay in hospital of patients suffering from "other diseases" 1929-1932:—
1929—23.4 1931—29.3
1930—27.1 1932—27.2
The following are the figures for the past four years for the Domestic Staff:—
| Number of Maids who were off duty for 24 hours or more. | Number of days off duty. | |
|---|---|---|
| 1929 | 23 | 298 |
| 1930 | 11 | 281 |
| 1931 | 15 | 212 |
| 1932 | 9 | 133 |
The health of the Nursing Staff has been satisfactory. Two nurses contracted scarlet fever
one nurse contracted measles and one nurse had to have her tonsils excised as she proved to be a
diphtheria carrier. The other 24 nurses had comparatively mild illnesses with the exception of one
who had to be operated on for appendicitis.