Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for East Ham]
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previously occupied and its contents are disinfected. Library
books, if present, are removed for disinfection. Whether the
patient be removed to Hospital or not, the Sanitary Inspector at
once calls and obtains all particulars of the case and endeavours to
trace the source of infection. He also leaves a printed form
giving full instructions as to isolation, etc., and the precautions
which should be adopted to prevent the spread of infection. Information
is obtained as to the Day and Sunday schools attended,
either by the patient or by children in the house, the school
authorities are notified, and all children living in the house are for
a time excluded. The source of the milk supply, the occupation
of the inmates, home work, sanitary condition of the premises,
water supply, presence of animals, etc., are all investigated, and
a report made to me on the same day. The name of the laundry
is also ascertained, the proprietor is notified, and the sending of
clothes there is prohibited until the premises are free from
infection.
Disinfection of premises and articles which have been exposed
to infection is undertaken by the Sanitary Department.
Disinfectants in every case are supplied free of charge.
The Council also supply Anti-toxin gratuitously to all medical
practitioners for the treatment of cases in the Borough.
DISEASE NOTIFICATION 1923-1928.
Disease. | 1923 | 1924 | 1925 | 1926 | 1927 | 1928 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Small Pox | - | - | - | - | - | 17 |
Scarlet fever | 170 | 215 | 221 | 350 | 798 | 832 |
Diphtheria | 160 | 128 | 246 | 337 | 464 | 669 |
Enteric Fever (Typhoid and Para-Typhoid) | 3 | 5 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 7 |
Erysipelas | 32 | 38 | 41 | 41 | 38 | 60 |
Puerperal Fever | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 8 |
Puerperal Pyrexia | — | — | — | — | 11 | 11 |
Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
Encephalitis Lethargica | — | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Ophthalmia Neonatorum | 11 | 11 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 |
Acute Polio Myelitis | 3 | 1 | 1 | — | 5 | — |
385 | 413 | 536 | 750 | 1338 | 1620 | |
Pneumonia | 54 | 79 | 91 | 70 | 114 | 82 |