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
Ilford 1947
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Ilford]
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Of the cases notified, the following table shows the percentage treated in institutions, including those who were treated in the institutions from which they were notified:—
| Scarlet Fever | 69.0 |
| Diphtheria and Membranous Croup | 100.0 |
| Puerperal Pyrexia | 97.7 |
| Pneumonia | 56.9 |
1 he total number of deaths of Ilford residents from the following infectious diseases during 1946 and 1947 were as follows:—
| 1946 | 1947 | |
|---|---|---|
| Scarlet Fever | - | - |
| Enteric Fever | — | - |
| Diphtheria | 1 | 1 |
| Measles | — | 1 |
| Whooping Cough | 1 | 2 |
| Influenza | 20 | 20 |
| Tuberculosis—Pulmonary | 57 | 65 |
| Other forms | 9 | 10 |
| Pneumonia | 74 | 68 |
| Diarrhoea (under 2 years) | 5 | 6 |
| Cerebro-spinal Fever | 3 | 1 |
| Puerperal Sepsis | — | — |
| Total | 170 | 174 |
The year 1947, on the whole, showed a higher incidence than that of 1946.
The number of cases of measles notified was 2,232 as compared with 1,135
the previous year.
(a) Smallpox.—No cases were notified during 1947. Notifications regarding
42 persons who had been in contact with cases of Smallpox in this country and
on the Continent were received. These were visited by the Sanitary Inspectors,
331 visits being paid.
The following gives particulars as to Vaccination during 1947:
| Certificates of Successful Vaccination | 2,502 |
| Postponed | 65 |
| Conscientious Objections | 825 |
| Unsuccessful Vaccination | 46 |
| Left the District | 381 |
(6) Scarlet Fever.-201 cases were notified in 1947. There were no deaths
from this disease.
The following "return" cases have occurred during the past five years, a "return" case being one which arises within 28 days of the release of the primary case from isolation:—
| Year | Cases notified (including Institutions) | Admitted to Ilford Isolation Hospital | "Return" Hospital Cases | Per Cent. | Home Cases | Cases arising in same house | Per Cent. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1943 | 579 | 427 | 11 | 2.6 | 152 | 2 | 1.31 |
| 1944 | 278 | 193 | 3 | 1.5 | 85 | 1 | 1.2 |
| 1945 | 225 | 166 | 7 | 4.2 | 57 | I | 1.7 |
| 1946 | 242 | 180 | 7 | 3.8 | 61 | 4 | 6.5 |
| 1947 | 201 | 144 | 4 | 2.8 | 57 | - | - |
(c) Diphtheria.—22 cases were notified in 1947. One death occurred at the
Ilford Isolation Hospital, an unimmunised male child, aged 5 years, seven
days after admission.
Of the 22 notifications received, only 12 were actually cases of diphtheria,
one being a case of diphtheroid conjunctivitis.