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 1935
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Woolwich]
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In his certificate he must state the name, age and sex of the person, the full postal
address, and particulars of the food poisoning from which the person is suffering
or suspected to be suffering.
The total number of notifications received was 68, sixteen of which related
to an outbreak in a hostel. In five other instances two persons were involved.
The age and sex distribution of the cases notified is shown in the following
Table, No. 55:—
TABLE No. 55.
Cases of Food Poisoning Notified during 1935.
| Age Periods. | Male. | Female. | Total. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1 | — | — | — |
| 1 and under 5 | — | 1 | — |
| 6 and under 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| 10 and under 15 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| 15 and under 20 | — | 15 | 15 |
| 20 and under 35 | 3 | 11 | 14 |
| 35 and under 45 | 4 | 4 | 8 |
| 45 and under 65 | 11 | 8 | 19 |
| 65 and over | — | 2 | 2 |
| 24 | 44 | 68 |
The medical practitioner notifying is required to state on his certificate the
food he suspects. In 20 households, fish, in one or other form—fresh, fried, tinned,
shell or paste—was suspected; in 16 households, meat—pork, ham, rabbit, lamb,
sausage, curry or meat paste; in 6 households, fruit—fresh or tinned; and in six
other instances other foods were suspect. Most of the cases were slight in character,
and two only were admitted to hospital where the diagnosis was not confirmed.
Some cases were investigated bacteriologically
(a) Two adults had boiled ham for supper. In eleven hours and nineteen
hours, respectively, both were suffering from diarrhoea and sickness and abdominal