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
Heston and Isleworth 1932
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Heston and Isleworth]
This page requires JavaScript
Infectious Diseases.
Scarlet Fever and Diphtheria.—There were 6 "return" cases of Scarlet Fever and none
of Diphtheria during the year. The usual period allowed when speaking of a "Return Case" is
28 days after the return home of a case from Hospital, or 28 days after the release of a case from
isolation at home.
No cases of Diphtheria were notified from North Hyde School during the year.
Some use is made of the Dick reaction in connection with query cases of Scarlet Fever at Mogden
Hospital. Scarlet Fever serum is used in nearly all cases at the hospital.
The Staff of Mogden Hospital is Schick tested and immunised.
Scarlet Fever.—The following table shows the number of cases which have been notified,
and the number and percentage of cases which have been removed to Hospital:—
No. of civil cases notified 207
No. of civil cases removed to Hospitals 173
Percentage of cases removed to Hospitals 83.57
The incident rate of Scarlet Fever in the civil population (81,100) was 2.55 per 1,000. There
were no deaths from this cause during the year.
Diphtheria.—The following table shows the number of notifications received and the percentage of cases of Diphtheria removed to Hospital:—
| No. of civil cases notified | 58 |
| No. of civil cases removed to Hospitals | 57 |
| Percentage of cases removed to Hospitals | 98.27 |
I he incident rate per 1,000 of the civil population was 0.72. Seven cases occurred in institutions during the year. Three deaths took place from this disease,
| The deaths occurred in the following age groups:— | ||||||||
| Under 1 year | 1 | 5—10 years | 1 | 10—15 years | 1 | |||
| And in the following months:— | ||||||||
| January | 1 | April | 1 | August | 1 | |||
| For the last four years the deaths from Diphtheria have been as follows:— | ||||||||
| Year | Year | Year | Year | |||||
| 1929 | 23 | 1930 | 19 | 1931 | 4 | 1932 | 3 | |
The full details of the Immunization work for 1932 are set out in the following report by
Dr. Bousfield.
Schick testing has been resorted to in practically every case, and every effort has been made
to ensure that the work is as accurately scientific as it is possible to make it.
Report of work of the Diphtheria Immunisation Clinics for 1932.
The number of fresh cases tested during the year was 413. Of these 89 were naturally immune
and 324 were susceptible. Of the 538 Certificates given, 92 were naturally immune and 446 were
immunised in all stages.
The total number of attendances at the various clinics during the year was 3015.
Up to the end of 1932 the number of certificates of immunity issued had amounted to 3,257,
Of these 659 were given to naturally immune subjects and 2,598 to subjects who were originally
susceptible and who were immunised at the clinics.
The technical procedure employed during the last year has been the same as heretofore with
the exception that a slightly larger final injection of immunising material has been given in the hope
that a larger proportion of children will be immunised by the initial course of three injections. At
present the number of cases is insufficient to prove anything, but so far, the results do not appear
to show that the method has any advantages. The procedure will however be continued for a while.
The results of re-testing immunised cases during this year is shown below:—
Number rendered immune after 3 injections 356
Number rendered immune only after a secondary course of injections 81
31