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
Twickenham 1934
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Twickenham]
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16
Immunization against Infectious Disease.
As set out above, this was carried out in connection with Scarlet Fever at Fortescue House
School and with Diphtheria at the Police Orphanage School.
In September, 1934, after a report on the subject of immunization against Diphtheria
had been submitted, the Council gave instructions for a special clinic to be established for the
purpose of testing and if necessary immunization against Diphtheria of such persons who desired
to avail themselves of the facilities offered.
The Clinic was opened for the first time in December, 1934. At first it was intended to hold
one session per week only, but almost immediately after the establishment of the Clinic the
numbers applying to be immunized became so great that three sessions per week became necessary.
The measures of publicity adopted were to issue notices to every child attending the
public elementary schools, and to mothers at the Infant Welfare Centres, the display of postenat
these places and the circulation of all parents known to have children between the ages of 1
and 5 years. No special publicity campaign was undertaken, but the response from the schools
was immediate and overwhelming. That from parents of children between 1 and 5 years has been
less enthusiastic, although it is between these ages that the greatest danger from Diphtheria
arises.
Table of notifications of Infectious Disease during the past ten years.
| 1925 | 1926 | 1927 | 1928 | 1929 | 1930 | 1931 | 1932 | 1933 | 1934 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anthrax | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Small-pox | — | — | 1 | —_ | — | — | — | —_ | — | — |
| Scarlet Fever | 36 | 25 | 49 | 71 | 124 | 173 | 102 | 96 | 91 | 106 |
| Diphtheria | 37 | 60 | 88 | 117 | 93 | 136 | 64 | 27 | 29 | 121 |
| Dysentery | — | — | — | — | 28 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Enteric Fever | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| Puerperal Fever | 2 | 2 | — | 3 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| „ Pyrexia | † | 3 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Ophthalmia Neonatorum | 6 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 5 | — | 3 |
| Pneumonia:— | ||||||||||
| Primary | 43 | 19 | 24 | 15 | 22 | 6 | 19 | 14 | 17 | 14 |
| Influenzal | 5 | 5 | 10 | 5 | 17 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 8 |
| Erysipelas | 13 | 13 | 10 | 17 | 9 | 11 | 7 | 12 | 8 | 23 |
| Malaria | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Encephalitis Lethargica | 4 | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Acute Polio Encephalitis | _ | _ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Poliomyelitis | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — |
| Cerebro-spinal Fever | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Tuberculosis: — | ||||||||||
| Pulmonary | 45 | 36 | 42 | 40 | 44 | 49 | 44 | 51 | 27 | 45 |
| Non-pulmonary | 11 | 13 | 16 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 3 1 |
† Not notifiable
Tuberculosis.
Following is a table of the notifications of new cases of tuberculosis received &. during the year, with the ages at the time of notification and a table of the deaths which occurred as the result of tuberculosis, with the ages at which death occurred.
| Age Periods | New Cases | Deaths | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pulmonary | NonPulmonary | Pulmonary | Non Pulmonary | |||||
| M. | F. | M. | F. | M. | F. | M. | F. | |
| 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | - | - | — | - | - | — | - | - |
| 5 | - | - | — | — | — | — | 1 | — |
| 10 | 9 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 15 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | - | — | — |
| 20 | 2 | 5 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — |
| 25 | 2 | 8 | — | 2 | 3 | 2 | — | — |
| 35 | 7 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| 45 | 5 | 2 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — |
| 55 | 5 | 1 | — | — | 4 | — | — | 1 |
| 65 and upwards | - | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | - | - |
| Totals | 25 | 20 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
The treatment of cases of tuberculosis is carried out by Officers of the Middlesex County
Council, but all cases residing in the Borough were visited at regular intervals by the Health
Visitors of the Corporation.