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
Chigwell 1948
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Chigwell]
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Those affected experienced diarrhoea 2 —4 hours
after the meal, and all cases recovered within 48 hours.
It was impossible to submit samples of the food for
analysis as all residues had been removed before the
investigations were carried out. Streptococcal infection
is believed to have been the cause of the
outbreak.
The foods concerned were mincemeat, potatoes,
cabbage, steamed suet pudding and custard. No
other cases were reported from other establishments
receiving food from the same source.
APPENDIX.
Rainfall in Inches by Months for 1948.
| Metropolitan High Beech | Water Board Buckhurst Hill | Luxborough S.D. Works. | C.U.D.C Loughton Depot | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 4.41 | 4.32 | 3.57 | 3.98 |
| February | 1.96 | 1.64 | 0.78 | 1.15 |
| March | 0.69 | 0.71 | 0.70 | 0.63 |
| April | 1.67 | 1.51 | 1.83 | 1.42 |
| May | 2.07 | 2.23 | 1.29 | 2.37 |
| June | 2.32 | 2.23 | 2.44 | 2.31 |
| July | 0.81 | 0.87 | 1.37 | 0.78 |
| August | 3.56 | 3.55 | 3.88 | 3.69 |
| September | 1.37 | 1.35 | 1.08 | 1.57 |
| October | 1.96 | 1.88 | 2.06 | 1.87 |
| November | 2.17 | 2.16 | 1.98 | 2.22 |
| December | 2.51 | 2.41 | 1.18 | 2.32 |
| 25.50 | 24.86 | 22.16 | 24.31 |
The highest point in the District is 372 O.D., and
the lowest 44 O.D.
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