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
Shoreditch 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Shoreditch]
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52
ERYSIPELAS
The cases certified numbered 55, and there was one death—a female aged 52
years.
The disease affected all ages, but it was much more frequent in adults than in
children. The maximum incidence was in the last quarter of the year.
A comparison between London and Shoreditch is contained in the following table:—
Table No. 36
| 1937. | Per 1,000 inhabitants. | Deaths per 100 cases. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attack rate. | Death rate. | ||
| London | 0.44 | 0.01 | 2.83 |
| Shoreditch | 0.67 | 0.01 | 1.82 |
Forty-five cases were removed to hospital, mostly to St. Leonard's,during the
course of the year.
PUERPERAL FEVER AND PUERPERAL PYREXIA
Three cases of puerperal fever were notified during the year, giving a case rate of
0.04 per 1,000 population. There was one death due to sepsis. All three cases
occurred in hospital.
In the Borough provision is made for consultations under the Public Health
(Notification of Puerperal Fever and Puerperal Pyrexia) Regulations, 1926. No
such consultations were held during the year.
During the year 21 cases of puerperal pyrexia were notified. Of the 21 cases, 16
were removed to hospital. The final diagnosis in these cases was as follows:—
Genital sepsis 6
Urinary infections 5
Influenza, bronchitis, etc. 3
Mastitis 3
Puerperal fever 2
Incomplete abortion 1
Mechanical failure of drainage 1
It will be apparent that a considerable proportion of the cases of puerperal
pyrexia, although not finally diagnosed as puerperal fever, were due to septic conditions
of the generative tract.