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 1951
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]
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in view of the negative pathological findings the condition was
probably one of "winter vomiting."
Some 72 children were visited by the School Nurse, and the
total number of cases was 84 before the outbreak ended naturally
at the beginning of December.
Bacillary Dysentery (Sonne).—In February a question was
raised as to the supply of paper towels in schools other than infants'
schools, which were already being supplied. The cost to supply
all schools was found to be prohibitive, and it was finally decided
to supply paper towels to those schools in which dysentery had
occurred and until cases had ceased for two weeks.
Bacillary Dysentery at Nursery School.—The first case of
Sonne Dysentery was notified in mid-February, the school being
cleared by mid-April with a total of 42 cases.
The routine which had been worked out for the control of
Day Nurseries was applied, including the prophylactic use of a
sulphonamide (Thalazole).
Immunisation Clinic.—The arrangements were as detailed in
the 1939 Report.
The following table shows the work done at the Clinic:—
| Total immunisations completed during 1951 | 1,477 |
| (a) Pre-school age | 1,212 |
| (b) School age | 265 |
| (c) Over school age | — |
| Immunisation at schools (included above):— | |
| Number immunised | 196 |
| Number awaiting second dose | 32 |
| Number already immunised given an extra dose | 1,709 |
During the five years to 1950 the percentages of children protected in the various age-groups were as follows:—
| Year | Population | Percentage Immunised | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 5 years | 5-15 years | 0-15 years | ||
| 1946 | 118,660 | 50.3 | 77.4 | 67.7 |
| 1947 | 123,100 | 52.4 | 86.0 | 72.2 |
| 1948 | 122,700 | 61.5 | 91.5 | 79.2 |
| 1949 | 123,400 | 62.5 | 96.2 | 82.1 |
| 1950 | 122,700 | 60.5 | 96.5 | 81.9 |