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 1932
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Woolwich]
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93
Ophthalmia Neonatorum.
Seven cases were notified, two of which were admitted to hospital. Three cases
were nursed at home under the Council's scheme, 113 visits in all being paid. The
cost of this service was £5 13s. 0d. The following Table gives details of each case.
The case notified on the 15th August was complicated by the fact that the eye was
injured at birth.
TABLE No. 68.
| Date Notified. | Cases Treated: | Vision Unimpaired | Vision Impaired. | Total Blindness. | Deaths. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home. | Hospital. | |||||
| 29th January | — | Yes | Yes | — | — | — |
| 31st March | Yes | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 22nd June | Yes | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 29th June | — | Yes | Yes | — | — | — |
| 15th August | Yes | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 30th September | Yes | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 3rd October | Yes | Yes | — | — | — | |
Zymotic Enteritis.
Eleven cases of this disease were notified during the year, compared with three
cases in 1931 and 22 in 1930. The number of deaths in children under two years
of age, certified to be due to diarrhœal diseases, was eight.
Whooping Cough.
During the year 233 cases of Whooping Cough came to the knowledge of the
Department, compared with 492 in 1931 and 73 in 1930. As this disease is not
notifiable in the Borough, knowledge is usually obtained through the School Medical
Service, but, exceptionally, cases are notified by medical practitioners and occasionally
cases are discovered by the health visitors in their routine visits.
Deaths.—There were eight deaths certified to be due to this disease, compared
with nine in 1931.
Measles.
The two main sources of our knowledge of the incidence of Measles in the
Borough are the School Medical Service and the health visitors. Occasionally,
however, information comes through the local nursing associations and from parents.
During the year 3,135 cases (including 82 cases of German Measles) were discovered.
In 1931 and 1930 the corresponding figures were 113 and 2,702.