London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Wimbledon 1930

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wimbledon]

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Of the 34 deaths from pulmonary tuberculosis, 21 died
outside the district (13 males and 8 females), i.e., notification of
death was transferred to Wimbledon. Of the 7 non-pulmonary
deaths. 3 males died outside the district.
Of the non-pulmonary tuberculosis deaths 4 were due to
meningitis, 1 to peritonitis, 1 enteritis and 1 to general tuberculosis.
On receipt of notifications of new cases, visits are paid to the
homes by the nursing staff of the Public Health Department.
Advice is given regarding the precautions to be taken with the
view to preventing the spread of the infection. Where necesssary
disinfectants are also supplied. The Tuberculosis Department
of the Surrey County Council make all arrangements for the provision
of sanatorium and hospital treatment.
Smallpox.—Smallpox continued to be prevalent throughout
the country during the year. Two cases were notified in Wimbledon
and both patients were removed to the Smallpox Hospital
at Clandon. The disease was of a mild type and recovery
rapidly ensued.
One of the patients was employed by a large local firm.
There were about 150 contacts at the works. These contacts
w ere examined the day after the patient was removed to hospital
and more than half of them were vaccinated or re-vaccinated.
Daily supervision was maintained over the whole staff for 16
days. Absentees were visited at their homes and in the case
of employees who resided outside the Borough notifications were
sent to the Public Health Departments concerned. No secondary
case occurred.
In addition, information was received by the Public Health
Department periodically throughout the year of persons resident
in Wimbledon who had been in contact with cases of smallpox
outside the Borough. In all, 88 contacts were notified from
other Health Departments. They were kept under observation
for 16 days by the sanitary staff. None of these contacts developed
the disease. 425 visits were paid to the houses of smallpox
contacts during the year. As in 1929, it was not considered
necessary to make chicken-pox notifiable in Wimbledon.
Psittacosis.—During the early part of 1930, three cases of
psittacosis occurred. Two of the patients were from the same
house. The first patient was taken ill on January 5th with
symptoms of an influenzal nature, associated with pneumonia.
The illness lasted for two weeks and was followed by recovery.
The second patient in this house was taken ill on January
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