London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Walthamstow 1952
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]
This page requires JavaScript
The incidence by months and wards is given below:—
| January | 27 | July | 33 |
| February | 31 | August | 11 |
| March | 37 | September | 13 |
| April | 35 | October | 46 |
| May | 32 | November | 64 |
| June | 29 | December | 60 |
| St. James Street | 34 | Wood Street | 27 |
| High Street | 28 | Hale End | 147 |
| Hoe Street | 50 | Higham Hill | 132 |
The last fatal case of scarlet fever occurred in 1936 and since
then up to the end of 1952 there have been 4,237 notified cases
without fatality.
DIPHTHERIA
During 1952, 10 cases were notified, but none was confirmed
following observation in hospital. There has been no death from
diphtheria in the Borough for six years.
Diphtheria remains a deadly disease, but unfortunately, in its
absence, complacency continues. Every baby should be immunised
before reaching the age of one year.
Diphtheria immunisation is referred to more fully in Section
G of the Report in regard to Part III Health Services.
MEASLES AND WHOOPING COUGH
All cases of these diseases are now notifiable, but in many
cases notifications are received too late to be of any real value,
since the health visitors are then unable to visit patients in unsatisfactory
homes where their advice would be of value. The health
visitors are given complete discretion as to the cases which might
merit a visit.
| January | 21 | July | 257 |
| February | 9 | August | 127 |
| March | 11 | September | 42 |
| April | 8 | October | 218 |
| May | 7 | November | 193 |
| June | 109 | December | 570 |
| St. James Street | 189 | Wood Street | 208 |
| High Street | 168 | Hale End | 483 |
| Hoe Street | 198 | Higham Hill | 326 |