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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 1954
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]
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The following is a summary of the Quarterly Returns made to the Ministry of Health:—
| 1st qtr. | 2nd qtr. | 3rd qtr. | 4th qtr. | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scarlet Fever | 46 | 39 | 29 | 73 | 187 |
| Whooping Cough | 207 | 92 | 58 | 15 | 372 |
| A.P.M.—Paralytic | — | — | — | — | — |
| Non-Paralytic | — | — | — | — | — |
| Measles | 91 | 205 | 230 | 308 | 834 |
| Diphtheria | — | — | — | — | — |
| Pneumonia | 25 | 19 | 16 | 29 | 89 |
| Dysentery | 111 | 40 | 7 | 1 | 159 |
| Smallpox | — | — | — | — | — |
| Infective encephalitis | — | — | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Post infectious encephalitis | — | — | — | — | — |
| Typhoid Fever | — | — | 1 | — | 1 |
| Paratyphoid Fever | — | — | — | — | — |
| Erysipelas | 6 | 7 | 4 | 17 | 34 |
| Meningococcal Infection | — | — | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Food poisoning | 3 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 22 |
| Puerperal Pyrexia | 18 | 16 | 19 | 18 | 71 |
| Ophthalmia Neonatorum | 3 | 2 | — | — | 5 |
| Malaria | 1 | — | — | — | 1 |
| Tuberculosis— | |||||
| Respiratory | 15 | 22 | 12 | 11 | 60 |
| Non-Pulmonary | 2 | 1 | — | 1 | 4 |
| Central Nervous System | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | 3 |
SCARLET FEVER
Although 187 cases of scarlet fever were notified during 1954
as against 289 during 1953, an extremely troublesome outbreak
occurred in the Sidney Burnell Infant School which continued to a
lessening degree into 1955. The outbreak is fully noted in the
Report of the Borough School Medical Officer.
DIPHTHERIA
Six cases were removed to hospital for observation but none
was confirmed. One case was diagnosed as Vincents Angina, four
cases as streptococcal tonsillitis and one as non-specific tonsillitis.
There has been no death from diphtheria in the Borough for
eight years and the last confirmed case of diphtheria was notified
in January, 1950.
Diphtheria remains a deadly disease, but unfortunately, in its
absence, complacency continues. Every baby should be immunised
before reaching the age of one year.
INFLUENZA
Following an enquiry in June from the Medical Staff of the
Ministry of Health as to local experience in the "Great Towns" of
England and Wales, an enquiry was made as to the incidence of
influenza in schools during the winter of 1953/4.