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 1952
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kingston-upon-Thames]
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Puerperal Pyrexia.
Eighty-four cases were notified during 1952, 82 of which occurred in patients in Kingston Hospital. An analysis is shown below, together with figures for the years 1948 - 1951 for purposes of comparison. Twenty-three of the cases were Kingston residents, and the total which shows an increase of 43 cases over 1951 reflects the effect, as mentioned in my report for 1951, of the Puerperal Pyrexia Regulations, 1951, which modify the definition of the disease, and became operative in August, 1951.
| Cases | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 29 | 23 | 41 | 84 | |
| (b) Number included in (a) of | |||||
| (i) Kingston residents | 9 | 4 | 8 | 14 | 23 |
| (ii) Extra district re sidents | 21 | 25 | 15 | 27 | 61 |
| (c) Number included in (a) notified from Kingston | 29 | 28 | 21 | 40 | 82 |
| (d) Number included in (a) | |||||
| notified by private doctors | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| (e) Number of cases included in | |||||
| (d) removed to hospital other than those included in (C) | - | - | - | - | - |
Food Poisoning.
A total of three cases of food poisoning was notified
during 1952, compared with five cases in 1951- These were
isolated, unconnected cases which fortunately did not produce
severe illnesses.
Two of the persons affected had eaten duck eggs, a food
which is known to be quite a common vehicle for organisms
capable of producing poisoning. Faeces specimens were
taken from the patients, and a salmonella organism was
isolated in respect of one of the patients. Nothing remained
of the suspected food and laboratory tests could not therefore
be made. Tests were carried out, however, on eggs taken from
the stocks of the suppliers of the suspected eggs, but the
results were negative for pathogenic organisms.
The third case was one where no particular food was
suspected although a faeces specimen from the patient had
produced evidence of infection by a salmonella organism.
Tuberculosis.
Cases ©f tuberculosis are dealt with by the South West
Metropolitan Regional Hospital Boards, and by the Surrey
County Council. Good liaison exists between your Medical
Officer and the Chest Physician, and his staff, and with
the Surrey County Council. Each case notified is visited
by an officer of the Public Health Department, and all
contacts are advised to consult the Chest Physician, The
efficiency of notification is good and there have been no
cases of wilful neglect or refusal to notify.