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
Harrow 1950
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Harrow]
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PREVALENCE OF AND CONTROL OVER INFECTIOUS AND OTHER DISEASES
PREVALENCE OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES (other than Tuberculosis).
| Disease | Und. 1 yr. | 1-4 yrs. | 5-9 yrs. | 10-14 yrs. | 15-19 yrs. | 20-24 yrs. | 25-34 yrs. | 35-44 yrs. | 45-54 yrs. | 55-64 yrs. | 65 & over | Age unknown | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scarlet fever | 1 | 64 | 157 | 18 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 2 | _ | _ | _ | _ | 255 |
| Diphtheria | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
| Pneumonia | 1 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 15 | 12 | — | 71 |
| Dysentery | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 5 |
| Erysipelas | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 1 | — | 22 |
| Cerebro-spinal fever | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | 9 |
| Puerperal pyrexia | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | 6 |
| Ophthalmia neonatorum | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Poliomyelitis | 2 | 8 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 30 |
| Measles | 23 | 467 | 493 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 3 | — | 2 | — | 2 | 1,005 |
| Whooping cough | 39 | 357 | 356 | 10 | 1 | — | 3 | 4 | — | — | — | 2 | 772 |
| Enteric fever | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 5 |
| Food poisoning | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 5 |
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| Disease | Cases Notified | Admitted to Hendon Isolation Hospital | Admitted to other Isolation Hospitals | Admitted to other Hospitals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scarlet fever | 259 | 44 | 25 | _ |
| Diphtheria | 24 | 13 | 11 | — |
| Pneumonia | 71 | 2 | — | — |
| Dysentery | 7 | — | 1 | — |
| Erysipelas | 22 | 6 | — | 1 |
| Cerebro-spinal fever | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 |
| Puerperal pyrexia | 6 | 2 | — | 3 |
| Ophthalmia neonatorum | — | — | — | — |
| Poliomyelitis | 36 | 19 | 8 | 7 |
| Measles | 1,005 | 3 | 9 | — |
| Whooping cough | 772 | 1 | 8 | — |
| Enteric fever | 7 | 7 | — | — |
| Food poisoning | 4 | — | 3 | 1 |
CONTROL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
For an authority to be put in a position to take steps to control the
spread of an infectious disease it must first be made aware of the infectious
patients. This information is received when the patient's doctor notifies
the Public Health Office. Particulars at the household are learnt of by
the visits paid to the homes by the health visitors or sanitary inspectors.
The efficacy of preventive steps is limited if the disease in the patient is
not recognised at an early stage. Facilities for assisting the making of an
early diagnosis, then, are an important step in the control of spread. The
spread of infection by the patient is limited by his being isolated either
in a hospital to which he has been removed or at home. Those who have
been in contact with the patient might be spreaders of infection, so their
activities might have to be restricted. The surroundings of the patient,
too, might be infective, and so might need treatment.