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
East Ham 1938
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for East Ham]
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(b) Scarlet Fewer.
| In hospital on December 31st 1937 | 34 |
| Admitted during 1938 | 233 |
| Discharged during 1938 | 244 |
| Died during 1938 | — |
| Remaining on December 31st 1938 | 23 |
| (c) Miscellaneous. | |
| In hospital on December 31st 1937 | 12 |
| Admitted during 1938 | 162 |
| Discharged during 1938 | 156 |
| Died during 1938 | 5 |
| Remaining on December 31st 1938 | 13 |
The miscellaneous admissions are set out below.
| Bronchitis | 4 | Meningitis | 1 |
| Cellulitis of leg | 1 | Miscellaneous observations | 6 |
| Chicken Pox | 9 | ||
| Dysentery | 2 | Mumps | 9 |
| Enteric Fever | 14 | No evidence disease | 4 |
| Erysipelas | 8 | Otitis Media | 1 |
| Erythema | 3 | Pneumonia | 15 |
| Hysteria | 1 | Rubella | 10 |
| Impetigo | 2 | Septic spots | 2 |
| Marasmus | 1 | Tonsillitis | 6 |
| Measles | Urticaria Papulara | 1 | |
| Whooping Cough | 7 | ||
| Total | 162 |
Diphtheria.
One hundred and forty-eight patients were admitted to the
hospital as compared with 138 during 1937 and 142 during 1936.
Thus the incidence of Diphtheria remains much the same as previously.
Considered as a whole the type of infection while still
remaining of a moderate virulence inclined to be somewhat more
severe in character than the previous year. Severe complications
including pharyngeal and diaphragmatic paralysis occurred and
proved fatal in three cases. Acute toxaemia resulting in circulatory
collapse, was the cause of five deaths. The average duration
of treatment was 50 days, the maximum being 124 days.