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 1957
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Harrow]
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PREVALENCE OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES (other than Tuberculosis).
| Disease | Under 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 + | Unknown | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scarlet Fever | 1 | 19 | 49 | 3 | 2 | 2 | - | - | - | — | - | - | 76 |
| Pneumonia, primary | — | 2 | 3 | 2 | — | 2 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 15 | — | 46 |
| Pneumonia, influenzal | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 33 |
| Diptheria | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | — | — | — | - | - |
| Dysentery | — | 1 | 7 | 3 | — | 2 | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | 17 |
| Erysipelas | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 5 | 5 | 3 | — | 14 |
| Meningococcal Infection | 1 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 6 |
| Puerperal Pyrexia | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | 1 |
| Ophthalmia Neonatorum | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Poliomyelitis, Paralytic | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | — | — | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 14 |
| Poliomyelitis, Non-paralytic | — | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | 15 |
| Encephalitis | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Measles | 37 | 721 | 944 | 48 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 8 | 1,783 |
| Whooping Cough | 25 | 103 | 106 | 16 | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 256 |
| Paratyphoid Fever | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 |
| Typhoid Fever | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 |
| Food Poisoning | 2 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 10 | 9 | 4 | 5 | — | 65 |
| Malaria | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
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 about the
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.
Disinfection
The proposal for the erection of a new disinfector had again to be
deferred because of the restriction on capital expenditure. This is unfortunate
for many reasons. One is that, because the boiler used to raise
steam for the disinfecting plant is of the size which was necessary to
provide steam for the laundry for which it was intended, every time the
plant has to be used it entails a heavy consumption of fuel which makes
the disinfecting a costly matter. Another disadvantage is the cost of
maintaining premises in which the disinfecting plant is housed, but which
occupies only a small part of the building. The continued use of this
plant means that the building and the grounds cannot be put to other use.
The Public Health Committee, towards the end of the year, instructed
that further representations should be made to the Minister of Housing
and Local Government pressing for early and favourable consideration
of the Council's proposals.
Cleansing
Section 42 of the Middlesex County Council Act 1956 lays down that
When it appears to the Medical Officer of Health or a Public Health