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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Antitoxin. A supply of Diphtheria Antitoxin is kept at the Town Hall, the
Plumstead Library and the Eltham Library, and is available for medical practitioners
on application, at cost price, or free where there is inability to pay. The amount
supplied during the year was 34,000 units. The total cost to the Council was
£2 11s. 0d., all of which was recovered.
Schick Test. There are no clinics in the area where Schick testing and immunisation
are carried out.
Scarlet Fever.
Notification. During the year 387 cases of Scarlet Fever were notified, compared
with 627 in 1930 and 567 in 1929. There were 52 military cases. The
number of notifications received each quarter was as follows: First quarter, 88;
second quarter, 128; third quarter, 84; fourth quarter, 87.
Multiple Cases. The following Table shows the house distribution by Wards.
The term "house" is synonymous with the term "family" except in five instances,
where two families were involved.
TABLE No. 50. Scarlet Fever: 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 | 9 | 10 | 29 | 10 | 19 | 7 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 23 | 10 | 25 | 30 | 20 | 227 | 227 |
| 2 cases occurred | 5 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | - | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | - | 31 | 62 |
| 3 „ „ | - | - | 1 | 2 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 3 | - | 2 | - | 8 | 24 |
| 4 „ „ | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | - | 3 | 12 |
| 5 „ „ | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | 2 | 10 |
| Total Houses | 14 | 14 | 36 | 13 | 21 | 9 | 14 | 11 | 12 | 24 | 15 | 29 | 39 | 20 | 271 | 335 |
| Military | - | 3 | - | 49 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 52 |
| 387 |
Deaths. There were five deaths from Scarlet Fever during the year, including
two in children under five years of age. In 1930 the number of deaths was five.
Home Isolation. Twelve cases, or 31 per cent., were isolated at home, and in
no instance did a return case occur. The same procedure as in Diphtheria was
carried out.