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 1950

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]

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47
ACUTE ENCEPHALITIS
No case of infective encephalitis was notified, and only one
post infective case.
BACILLARY DYSENTERY

Table: Six cases were notified during the year, and of these, five were at the end of October and the beginning of November, but all were apparently unrelated infections.

Six cases were notified during the year, and of these, five were at the end of October and the beginning of November, but all were apparently unrelated infections.

SexAgeWardRemoved to HospitalRemarks
1.M.1 yr.H.H.No.Recovered.
2.M.30 yrs.Wood St.No.Recovered.
3.F.43 yrs.High St.No.Recovered.
4.F.3 2 yrs.Hale EndNo.Recovered.
5.M.24 yrs.High St.No.Recovered.
6.F.60 yrs.Higham HillNo.Recovered.

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OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM
One case was notified and removed to hospital. There was
complete recovery.
PREVENTION OF BLINDNESS
No action was necessary under Section 176 of the Public
Health Act, 1936, for the prevention of blindness or the treatment
of persons suffering from any disease of, or injury to, the eyes.
PUERPERAL PYREXIA
Fourteen cases were notified—a reduction from 17 in 1949 and
from an average of 27 each year during the five'year period 1945/49.
All notifications were from hospitals, one of which was outside
the area. The incidence was spread fairly evenly throughout the
year, the maximum being three in June.
SMALLPOX
Nine contacts or cases for diagnosis were seen—one a contact
from a London hospital, the original case being later not confirmed,
cases 2 and 4 were suffering from Chickenpox and were seen for
confirmation of the family doctor's diagnosis—the fourth was a
contact from an infected ship, and the fifth, a person who travelled
from an area of risk by plane. Cases 6 to 9 were direct and
indirect contacts with the Brighton outbreak of Smallpox. In this
connection considerable anxiety was experienced in regard to the
daily collection of articles from Brighton for dry-cleaning by a large
firm in Walthamstow. The utmost co-operation was received from
the firm, and vaccination was carried out on all wishing it to be
done.
In regard to the diagnosis of doubtful cases, the pathological
services of the Central Public Health Laboratory, Colindale, were
used whenever necessary, and were of much help.