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 1956
[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:—
| Disease | 1st qtr. | 2nd qtr. | 3rd qtr. | 4th qtr. | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scarlet Fever | 55 | 24 | 14 | 18 | 111 |
| Whooping Cough | 26 | 96 | 134 | 91 | 347 |
| Acute Poliomyelitis: | |||||
| Paralytic | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Non-Paralytic | — | — | — | — | — |
| Measles | 13 | 160 | 37 | 288 | 498 |
| Diphtheria | — | — | — | — | — |
| Dysentery | 12 | 8 | 9 | 4 | 33 |
| Meningococcal Infection | — | — | — | 1 | 1 |
| Acute Pneumonia | 32 | 13 | 8 | 12 | 65 |
| Smallpox | — | — | — | — | — |
| Acute Encephalitis: | |||||
| Infective | — | — | — | — | — |
| Acute Encephalitis: | |||||
| Post Infectious | — | — | — | — | — |
| Typhoid Fever | — | — | 1 | — | 1 |
| Paratyphoid Fever | — | *(5)1 | — | — | 1 |
| Erysipelas | 8 | 3 | 8 | 9 | 28 |
| Food poisoning | I | 6 | 12 | 5 | 24 |
| Tuberculosis: | |||||
| Respiratory | 20 | 14 | 14 | 23 | 71 |
| Meninges & Central Nervous System | - | 1 | - | - | 1 |
| Other Forms | 1 | 3 | 1 | — | 5 |
| Puerperal Pyrexia | 35 | 14 | 11 | 21 | 81 |
| Ophthalmia Neonatorum | 3 | — | — | 1 | 4 |
| Malaria | — | — | — | — | — |
| Totals | 207 | 343 | 250 | 474 | 1,274 |
| * 4 later withdrawn as notified in hospital outside Walthamstow. | |||||
MEASLES
1956 was an inter-epidemic year but even so 498 cases were
notified.
WHOOPING COUGH
Of 347 cases notified, 35, i.e. over 10 per cent., were under
one year of age. It is hoped that eventually immunisation will
reduce the incidence in the first year of life.
DIPHTHERIA
Six cases were removed to hospital for observation but none
was confirmed.
There has been no death from diphtheria in the Borough for
10 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, and "booster" doses should
be given before entry to school and, ideally, again before transfer
from the infant to the junior school.