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 1951
[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 | — | 45 | 119 | 6 | 5 | 5 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 181 |
| Diphtheria | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Pneumonia | 2 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 6 | 1 | 11 | 17 | 20 | 21 | 37 | — | 166 |
| Dysentery | 1 | 5 | 28 | 2 | — | 1 | 4 | — | 1 | 2 | — | 1 | 45 |
| Erysipelas | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 7 | — | 25 |
| C.S. fever | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | 5 |
| Puerperal pyrexia | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 9 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 13 |
| Oph. neon. | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 |
| Poliomyelitis | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 8 |
| Measles | 46 | 1155 | 1239 | 46 | 17 | 13 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 2548 |
| Whooping cough | 47 | 404 | 298 | 14 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | 780 |
| Para-typhoid fever | — | 1 | 3 | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 6 |
| Food poisoning | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 4 |
CONTROL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Notification.
Puerperal pyrexia as notifiable under the 1938 Regulations was
any febrile condition occurring in a woman within 21 days of childbirth or
miscarriage in which a temperature of 100.4°F. or more had been sustained
during a period of 24 hours or had recurred during that period. This
definition had proved to be ambiguous. Moreover, many drugs now in
use can reduce temperatures. A patient, then, suffering from a state
which would result in her developing a temperature reaching a degree
calling for notification could have her temperature reduced by these
drugs with the result that the condition would not be notifiable. The
1938 Regulations were therefore replaced by those of 1951 which came
into force on 1st August, 1951 under which the definition of puerperal
pyrexia is any febrile condition occurring in a woman in whom a temperature
of 100.4°F. or more has occurred within 14 days after childbirth or
miscarriage.
The diseases which are notifiable are a number listed under the
Public Health Act, 1936, and others notifiable by regulation. In the
case of a number of those infections notifiable by regulation, the regulations
themselves have suggested the pattern of the form of notification
because in some infections information would be asked for from the
notifying practitioner which would not be required in other notifiable
conditions. The result is that local authorities have supplied to the
medical practitioners a number of books of notification forms. Ministry
of Health Circular 33/51 suggests that one composite form should be used
for the purpose of notifying all infectious diseases and food poisoning.
Arrangements are being made for this to be used in this district.
The Public Health (Leprosy) Regulations came into force on 22nd
June. These call for the notification by a medical practitioner to the
Chief Medical Officer for the Ministry of Health of any case of leprosy
he is attending. All other notifications of infections are sent to the
Medical Officer of Health of the district in which the patient lives. It is