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 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Willesden]
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74
Duration of Stay in Hospital.
Scarlet Fever.
The average length of detention of scarlet fever patients is the lowest recorded, certain of the mildest cases being discharged from Hospital on the 25th day of the disease.
| 1926 1928 1933 | 47.2 days 37.0 „ 32.1 „ | 1934 1936 1937 | 33.3 days 35.0 „ 31.5 „ |
Diphtheria.
| The average length of detention of diphtheria patients shows a decrease from last year, but this figure must vary from year to year according to the number of severe cases treated. | |||
| 1931 | 56.2 days | 1935 | 46.5 days |
| 1932 | 45.6 „ | 1936 | 49.1 ,, |
| 1934 | 42.1 „ | 1937 | 48.7 „ |
schick test and active immunisation against diphtheria.
(1) Nursing Staff.
During 1926 a commencement was made in Schick Testing the Nursing Staff and immunising
those nurses who proved susceptible to diphtheria. Since that date 13 cases of diphtheria have
occurred :—1 in 1927, 1 in 1928, 1 in 1929, 2 in 1930, 1 in 1932, 2 in 1934, 1 in 1935, 2 in 1936 and
2 in 1937.
The details of the latter two cases are as follows :—Probationer Nurse M. R. commenced duties on
January 21st, 1936. She was Schick Tested on February 22nd, 1936, and gave a negative reaction.
On January 3rd, 1937, she developed a mild attack of diphtheria. There were no complications.
Probationer Nurse E. J. commenced duties on September 24th 1936. She was Schick Tested on
October 2nd, 1936, and gave a positive reaction. On MarchlOth, 1937, she was re-Schick Tested and the
reaction proved negative. She developed a moderate attack of diphtheria on August 8th 1937, and
made an uneventful recovery.
Table No. 66.
| (1) Number of cases of diphtheria occurring amongst probationer nurses during the first eight months of 1926—(Before immunisation was carried out) | 9 |
| (2) Incidence rate per annum (taking 30 as average number of probationer nurses) | 45% |
| (3) Number of cases of diphtheria occurring amongst probationer nurses from 1927 to 1937 (After immunisation was carried out) | 13 |
| (4) Incidence rate per annum (Taking 30 as average number of probationer nurses) | 3-9% |
| (5) Number of nurses Schick Tested (1927-1937 inclusive) | 270 |
| (6) Number of nurses giving a positive reaction | 121 |
| (7) Percentage of nurses giving a positive reaction | 44-8% |
| (8) Number of nurses re-Schick Tested | 61 |
| (9) Number of nurses re-Schick Tested giving a positive reaction | 17 |
| (10) Percentage of nurses re-Schick Tested giving a positive reaction | 27.9% |
(2) Willesden Residents.
This clinic was made available for Willesden residents in May 1927.
| Year. | Number attending for Schick Test. | Number attending for Immunisation. |
|---|---|---|
| 1927 | 82 | 94 |
| 1928 | 28 | 34 |
| 1929 | 2 | 9 |
| 1930 | 19 | 22 |
| 1931 | 4 | 8 |
| 1932 | 2 | 6 |
| 1933 | 19 | 23 |
| 1934 | 22 | 47 |
| 1935 | 351 | 276 |
| 1936 | 237 | 201 |
| 1937 | 393 | 409 |
It will be observed that the number of individuals attending this clinic is the largest yet recorded
—more than double the number of persons as compared with last year being immunised.