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 1957
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kingston-upon-Thames]
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40
Ophthalmia Neonatoram.
For the tenth successive year no cases of ophthalmia
neonatorum have been notified.
Puerperal Pyrexiae
The Puerperal Pyrexia Regulations 1951 define this illness
as a febrile condition occurring in a woman in whom a temperature
of 100.4°F or more has occurred within fourteen days after childbirth
or miscarriage. During 1957, 59 cases were notified, 8 of
which referred to Kingston residents and all of whom were
notified from Kingston Hospital, These figures compare with 88,
21 and 88 respectively for 1956. An. analysis for the years back
to 1953 is shown below.
The maternity block at Kingston Hospital serves not only Kingston but a large surrounding area embracing a population of some 285,000 persons . During 1957, 1,773 deliveries took place
in the hospital,
| Cases | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (a) TOtal notified | 80 | 96 | 72 | 88 | 59 |
| (b) Number included in (a) of (i) Kingston residents | 15 | 27 | 17 | 21 | 8 |
| (ii) Extra district residents, | 65 | 69 | 55 | 67 | 51 |
| (c) Number included in (a) notified. from Kingston Hospital | 78 | 96 | 69 | 88 | 59 |
| (d) Number included in (a) notified by private doctors | 2 | – | 3 | - | - |
| (e) Number of eases included in(d) removed to hospital other than those included in (e) | - | - | - | - | - |
Food Poisoning
A total of 20 eases of food poisoning occurred during the
third quarter of the year 1957 These comprised 7 individual
unrelated cases and 2 small outbreaks comprising 3 and 10
cases respectively*.
Of the individual cases 5 were attributed to a salmonella
organism and 2 to staphylococcus aureus. In the cases of the
latter the food causing the illness was proved to be chicken
and ham, unconsumed portions of which were available for
bacteriological examination which, indicated the same type of
staphylococcus that was isolated from the patients® stools.
Of the salmonella eases 2 persons, a baby aged 2 months and its
father were proved to be suffering from salmonella Heidelberg.
No particular item of food was proved to be incriminated in
these illnesses
Similarly the outbreak concerning 3 persons was also due
to salmonella organism but no particular food was found to be
the cause. These 3 persons comprised one family and cross
Infection had apparently occurred. This was a clean household
with co-operative parents and the matter was quickly resolved
without further spread.