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
Woolwich 1931
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Woolwich]
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69
Diphtheria.
Notification. During the year 281 cases were notified, compared with 497
in 1930 and 496 in 1929. The number of military cases was 9. The number of
notifications received each quarter was as follows: First quarter, 84; Second
quarter, 75; Third quarter, 66; Fourth quarter, 56.
Multiple Cases. The following Table, No. 49, shews the house distribution
by Wards. The term "house" is synonymous with the term "family," except in
six instances, where two families were involved.
TABLE No. 49. Diphtheria, Multiple Cases.
| Dockyard. | St. Mary's. | River. | St. George's. | Burrage. | Herbert. | Glyndon. | St. Margaret's. | Central. | St. Nicholas. | Abbey Wood. | Well Hall. | Sherard. | Avery Hill. | Total Houses. | Total Cases. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Houses in which | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 case occurred | 14 | 12 | 24 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 18 | 6 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 50 | 8 | 205 | 205 |
| 2 cases occurred | 1 | 1 | - | 2 | 3 | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 8 | 1 | 18 | 36 |
| 3 „ „ | - | - | 2 | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | 1 | - | 5 | 15 |
| 4 „ „ | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | 1 | 4 |
| 12* „ „ | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 12 |
| Total Houses | 15 | 13 | 27 | 12 | 14 | 7 | 19 | 6 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 60 | 9 | 230 | 272 |
| Military | - | - | - | 9 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 9 | 9 |
| 281 |
Return Cases. Four cases gave rise to 4 return cases. In a hostel for women
and children there was an outbreak of 12 cases, some of which were return caess.
Deaths. There were six deaths from Diphtheria, compared with 5 in 1930
and 17 in 1929. Four of these deaths were in children under 5 and two were in
school children.
Home Isolation. Two cases were isolated at home. Frequent visits are made
by the district sanitary inspectors to all cases isolated at home in order to secure
that proper precuations are being taken for preventing the spread of the disease.
Employees of the Royal Arsenal are not allowed to remain at work unless cases
are removed to hospital or a certificate of efficient home isolation is issued by the
Medical Officer of Health. No certificates were issued during the year.