London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Shoreditch 1938

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Shoreditch]

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51
The number of deaths from this disease in London and Shoreditch during recent
years was as follows:—

Table No. 42

19311932193319341935193619371938
Shoreditch66622331
London1311311168073728560

ENCEPHALITIS LETHARGICA
One case of this disease was notified during the year, a female aged 29 years. It
is well known that the after effects of this disease present numerous administrative
difficulties. At the end of the year 25 patients who were suffering from post-encephalitic
symptoms were living in the Borough. There were no deaths of patients who
were suffering from post-encephalitic symptoms.
ACUTE POLIOMYELITIS
Two cases of this disease were notified during the year; males 3}£ and 18 years.
The younger male was regarded as an abortive case.
Children of school age suffering from this disease may attend Hoxton House
Centre for physical defectives, where they are kept under observation and referred to
hospital where necessary. The Invalid Children's Aid Association also renders
valuable assistance in assisting parents with the purchase of appliances which may be
necessary for the correction of deformities.
PNEUMONIA
The Ministry of Health Regulations of 1919 made two forms of pneumonia
compulsorily notifiable, viz., acute primary pneumonia and acute influenzal
pneumonia. During the year under review the number of notifications of pneumonia
received was 82, of which 74 were in respect of the primary and 8 of the influenzal
type.
The attack rate for the two varieties, based on the notifications received, was
0.92 and 0.10, as compared with 0.73 and 0.36 for 1937.
The number of deaths from pneumonia of all types was 72, which gives a death
rate of 0.90 per 1,000. It will be apparent that during the year under review
influenza contributed very little to the causes of death.
Table No. 27 on page 37 shows that the cases of acute primary pneumonia were
distributed more or less evenly throughout all the age groups. There was no marked
prevalence of the disease during any one quarter of the year.
Of the 82 cases of pneumonia brought to the notice of this department, 51
received treatment in St. Leonard's Hospital, 2 in St. Matthew's Hospital, and 7 in
other hospitals. 20 cases of pneumonia were visited by members of The District
Nursing Association, who paid in all 404 visits to pneumonia cases.