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

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Woolwich 1913

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Woolwich]

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56. The following are the cases notified in each parish during the past thirteen years:—

Average.
1901-05.1906-10.1911.1912.1913.
Woolwich1267.610107
Plumstead21.211.4W.343
E.222
Eltham8.62.8142

57. In my last Annual Report it was stated:—"6 cases
occurred in one family. The first was the mother, who was
treated in a general hospital for pneumonia. On her return
home her four children sickened one after another with
enteric. The mother was consequently examined bacteriologically,
and the typhoid bacilli found. She was accordingly
notified and sent to the Fever Hospital, but was, in spite
of protest, discharged while still excreting the disease germs.
A week later the husband began with enteric. This woman
was therefore responsible for infecting the whole family.
She has been specially warned as to steps she should take
to avoid infecting other persons, and will be kept under
observation. She is what is called a 'carrier case,' though
fortunately discovered to be such at an early stage."
Two of last year's cases were infected by this same
woman, one being another daughter, and one a man who was
boarding with her. Another was infected on board the S.S.
"Balaclava" from South America. In not one case was the
infection attributed to shell fish.
58. Bacteriological Diagnosis. 16 samples of blood were
sent to the Lister Institute and Seamen's Hospital to be
examined for Widal's reaction. A positive result was obtained
in 1.