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 1955
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Harrow]
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PREVALENCE OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES (other than Tuberculosis).
| Disease | Und. lyr. | 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 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scarlet Fever | — | 28 | 73 | 13 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 125 |
| Diphtheria | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | . — | — | — | — |
| Pneumonia | 2 | 5 | 16 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 10 | 23 | 13 | 22 | 110 |
| Dysentery | — | 6 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 30 |
| Erysipelas | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 19 |
| Meningococcal Infection | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | |
| Puerperal Pyrexia | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 |
| Ophthalmia Neonatorum | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Poliomyelitis, paralytic | — | 8 | 5 | 5 | — | — | 4 | — | 2 | — | 1 | 25 |
| Poliomyelitis, Non-paralytic | — | 3 | 6 | 3 | — | 1 | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | 19 |
| Encephalitis, Post-infective | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | |
| Measles | 49 | 1223 | 1790 | 42 | 9 | 1 | 5 | 5 | — | — | — | 3124 |
| Whooping Cough | 12 | 90 | 132 | 10 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 246 |
| Paratyphoid Fever | — | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 |
| Typhoid Fever | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 2 57 |
| Food Poisoning | — | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 5 | 11 | 14 | |
| Malaria | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
CONTROL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Particulars of the various steps taken to limit the spread of the infections
were set out in the Annual Report for 1954. These measures
include: the notification of a number of diseases; investigations made at
the homes of the patients and the advice given to the mother over the
precautions to be taken; the various ways in which help is given in early
diagnosis of an infectious disease; the isolation of the patient, whether in
hospital or at home; the exclusion from work of the contacts of patients
who might be carriers; and the arrangements for disinfection both of the
premises and of articles.
The only change during the year in regard to notification was that
by the Puerperal Pyrexia (Amendment) Regulations 1954 which came into
force on the 1st March, a new form of notification was prescribed requiring
the cause of the disease, if known, to be stated by the certifying practitioner.
The object is to distinguish those cases in which epidemiological action
might be taken.
In December, 1954, the Public Health Committee agreed to provide
a new disinfector and steam raising plant to be installed near the mortuary
at Peel Road. At their meeting in January, 1955, the Committee decided
that the best method of raising the steam would be by gas, and
recommended the provision of a new disinfector and steam raising plant
at an estimated cost of £3,316.
DIPHTHERIA
Incidence
Two persons suspected to be suffering from diphtheria were remove
to hospital. In neither of the cases was the diagnosis confirmed. The
district has now been free from the disease for five consecutive years
There had been a number of years when very few cases had Occured but
it was not until 1948 that it was possible to record a year with no notifictions.
Since the end of 1947 there has been two cases only, one a nasal,
the other a faucial infection.