Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Southall]
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Special Infectious Diseases.
Smallpox {Variola).
No patients with smallpox or contacts of cases of smallpox were notified to the
Department during the year. No work was done under the Public Health (Smallpox)
Regulations, 1917.
There were no cases of smallpox in Southall during 1945, but 15 persons who had been
in contact with smallpox in other countries and who were returning either as soldiers or
civilians were notified to the health department under the Public Health (Smallpox) Regulations,
1917. All these persons were kept under observation until the period of the
incubation of the disease was over.
Scarlet Fever (Scarlatina).
The number of notifications received during the year was 104, as compared with
115 for the previous year.
Of these 104 were removed to the Isolation Hospital.
Diphtheria.
Thirty-one cases of diphtheria were notified to the health department and admitted
to the Isolation Hospital during 1945. Eleven were not confirmed as diphtheria and the
total therefore was 20 positive cases, the majority of which were carriers. All cases were
mild in character, except one. There were no deaths from diphtheria, and complications
occurred only in four cases, i.e., cardiac irregularity in three, and pHatal paralysis in one.
This case was discharged cured.
Diphtheria Prevention.
There was an improvement in the number of children brought for immunisation
against diphtheria in 1945, and it is assumed that the continuous propaganda amongst
clinic mothers and in the homes and schools has obtained this improvement. The proportion
of children at the age of one year who are brought for immunisation to the total estimated
number in the district is not yet quite satisfactory. The proportion of new cases attending
for immunisation was 884, and was 75% up on the 1944 figure.
Diphtheria immunisation is carried out on Monday afternoons at the Branch Health
Centre, and on Thursday afternoons at the Manor House Clinic.
Table
Number of sessions held | 104 |
Total attendances made | 3,524 |
Average attendance per session | 34 |
Highest attendance at a session | 80 |
Lowest attendance at a session | 8 |
During 1945 the number of new cases was | 884 |
Ophthalmia Neonatorum.
No cases of ophthalmia neonatorum were notified in 1945.
One case under treatment at the end of 1944 recovered completely during 1945.
Acute Poliomyelitis.
Two cases were notified in the Borough during the year.
Notifiable Diseases during the Year.
For the incidence of various infectious diseases, excluding tuberculosis, notified
during the year, under age groups, locality, and certain cases occurring among school
children, see Appendix, Tables XXV, XXVI and XXVII.
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