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
Kingston upon Thames 1927
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kingston-upon-Thames]
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14
INFECTIOUS DISEASE.
NOTIFIABLE INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
There was a seasonal rise in the incidence of Scarlet
Fever during the autumn.
After four years of comparative freedom from
Diphtheria, a number of cases were notified during; October
November and December.
It is difficult to account" for this increase, the primary
cause of which, I think, must be due to some general
influence giving rise to a number of healthy "carriers" and
very mild "missed" cases, which become the source of
infection.
The following table gives a comparative statement of notifications received during the last seven years:—
| Year | Scarlet Fever | Diphtheria | Enteric Fever (including Paratyhiod) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1921 | 302 | 79 | 4 |
| 1922 | 238 | 74 | 1 |
| 1923 | 118 | 17 | 1 |
| 1924 | 143 | 20 | 6 |
| 1925 | 213 | 25 | 7 |
| 1926 | 82 | 27 | 7 |
| 1927 | 87 | 65 | 3 |
SCARLET FEVER.
The type of case has been mild, but one death was
attributed to this disease.
DIPHTHERIA.
There were 65 cases notified, but only one death was
attributed to this disease.
During the first nine months of the year only isolated
cases occurred, but in October cases were notified among
children attending Bonner Hill Road Infants' and Girls'
Schools.
In all, nine cases in the Infants' and six cases in the
Girls' Departments were notified during the last three
months of the year. Supervision and swabbing of contacts
was undertaken, and also inspection and swabbing in classes
in which the cases occurred. As a result, six healthy
carriers were isolated.
The same procedure was undertaken with cases and
contacts not of school age, and I thank the General
Practitioners for their co-operation and help in this work.