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 1947
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]
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The rate for Puerperal Pyrexia is better expressed in relation to the number of births (i.e., live and still-births) registered than to population. When calculated on this basis the rate is:-
| Disease. | Total notified. | Removed to Hospital. | Per cent. removed to Hospital. | Deaths. | Deathsper cent. of cases notified. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scarlet Fever | 232 | 138 | 59.4 | Nil | Nil |
| Diphtheria | — | — | — | Nil | Nil |
| Diphtheria Observation | 38 | 38 | 100.0 | Nil | Nil |
| Typhoid Fever | — | — | — | Nil | Nil |
| Paratyphoid Fever | — | — | — | Nil | Nil |
| Pneumonia | 151 | 103 | 68.2 | 81 | 53.6* |
| Puerperal Pyrexia | 30 | 5 | 16.0 | Nil | Nil |
| Ophthalmia Neonatorum | 5 | 1 | 20.0 | Nil | Nil |
| Erysipelas | 48 | 9 | 18.7 | Nil | Nil |
| Encephalitis Lethargica | — | — | — | Nil | Nil |
| Polio-encephalitis | — | — | — | Nil | Nil |
| Cerebro-spinal Meningitis | 9 | 8 | 88.8 | 1 | 11.1 |
| Anterior Poliomyelitis | 24 | 17 | 70.8 | Nil | Nil |
| Measles | 1081 | 43 | 3.9 | 2 | 0.18 |
| Whooping Cough | 223 | 20 | 8.9 | Nil | Nil |
| Dysentery | — | — | — | Nil | Nil |
| Malaria | — | — | — | Nil | Nil |
| Tuberculosis (all Forms) | 151 | 148 | — | 58 | 38.4 |
* All cases not notified.
†This figure also includes cases notified during previous years.
Infectious Diseases Clinic.—The weekly clinic at 3.30 p.m. on
Wednesdays was continued, and all children of school age who had
been in contact with cases of infectious diseases were seen prior to
their return to school.
As in previous years all children discharged from the Isolation
Hospital or after home isolation for infectious diseases were seen,
and particular care was taken to refer all cases with any suspicion
of rheumatism or of cardiac defect to the next Rheumatism Clinic.
The following table shows the work done at the infectious
diseases clinic, the large majority of patients being of school age :—
Number of clinics held in connection with Infectious
Diseases 52
Number of attendances made 380
Average attendance per session 7.3
Number of children referred to Rheumatism Clinic —
Number of children referred to Aural Clinic 3
DIPHTHERIA IMMUNISATION
Immunisation is carried out at the weekly clinic on Tuesdays
at 2 p.m., at Schools, and at all Welfare Centres along the lines
detailed in previous reports. The following summarises the work
done :—
Schick tested for the first time 15
Negative (including pseudo and negative) 9
Positive (including pseudo and positive) 6