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
Walthamstow 1934
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]
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59
MEASLES.
Under the Walthamstow (Measles) Regulations, 1932, all cases
of Measles in children under 5 years of age are notifiable, except
secondary cases in the same household or institution within two
months of the primary case.
The year 1934 was an epidemic year, the number of notifications
being 870 against 753 in the last 10 months of 1932 (the last
epidemic year). Only 11 cases were notified by parents. In
addition there were 1,909 cases of Measles reported by Head Teachers, and mainly in schoolchildren of 5-14 years, against only 1,525 in 1932.
| Month. | Total. | Under 1 yr. | 1-5 yrs. | St. James' Street. | High Street. | Hoe Street. | Wood Street. | Hale End. | Higham Hill. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 16 | 1 | 15 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 2 | |
| February | 41 | 3 | 38 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 15 | |
| March | 337 | 12 | 325 | 80 | 36 | 32 | 74 | 42 | 73 | |
| April | 312 | 20 | 292 | 58 | 33 | 43 | 27 | 45 | 106 | |
| May | 121 | 8 | 113 | 29 | 18 | 15 | 3 | 26 | 30 | |
| June | 31 | 2 | 29 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 10 | |
| July | 4 | — | 4 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | 1 | |
| August | 2 | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | |
| September | 3 | — | 3 | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1 | |
| October | 1 | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | - | |
| November | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | |
| December | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | |
| Totals | 1934 | 870 | 48 | 822 | 182 | 108 | 100 | 110 | 130 | 240 |
| 1933 | 58 | 8 | 50 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 16 | 24 | |
Forty-one children were admitted to the Sanatorium for treatment,
and in addition a considerable number were admitted to
Whipps Cross Hospital.
In view of the insufficient accommodation available at the
Sanatorium during an epidemic of Measles, only complicated cases
could be admitted, but, fortunately, no case had to be refused
admission.
The death-rate per 1,000 registered live births was 12.8,
against nil in 1933.
The deaths occurred as follows:— at Isolation Hospital, 9;
at Whipps Cross Hospital, 9; at home, 4; Total, 22.
Measles Serum.— The arrangements detailed in the report
for 1932 were continued and under which the local practitioners
were asked to notify the names of any healthy convalescent adults