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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 1936
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Twickenham]
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The number of notifiable infectious disease which occurred during 1936 is. set out in the flollowing table. Cases in which the diagnosis was not confirmed no observation subsequent to notification are not included.
| Month | Diphtheria | Scarlet Fever | Puerperal Fever | Puerperal Pyrexia | Pneumonia Primary | Pneumonia Influenzal | Ophthalmia Neonatorum | Erysipelas | Paratyphoid | Encephalitis Lethargica __ | Malaria | Dysentery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 4 | 11 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| February | 4 | 6 | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| March | — | 7 | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — |
| April | — | 3 | 1 | — | 2 | o | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| May | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| June | 1 | 7 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | — |
| July | 1 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — |
| August | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| September | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| October | 1 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — |
| November | 1 | 5 | — | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| December | 1 | 7 | — | — | — | 2 | — | 2 | — | — | — | — |
| TOTALS | 14 | 62 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| Disease | Under 1 | 1-2 | 2-3 | 3-4 | 4-5 | 5-10 | 10-15 | 15-20 | 20-25 | 25-35 | 35 45 | 45-65 | 65, etc. | Admitted to Hospital | Total | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diphtheria | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 1 | — | 3 | — | — | — | 13 | 14 | — |
| Scarlet Fever | — | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 26 | 13 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 45 | 62 | — |
| Puerperal Fever | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 2 | 3 | — |
| Puerperal Pyrexia | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| Pneumonia :— | ||||||||||||||||
| Primary | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | 10 | 32 |
| Influenzal | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 1 | — | 8 | ||
| Ophthalmia Neonatorum | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | - |
| Erysipelas | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 2 | — | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | - |
| Acute Polio-myelitis | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Encephalitis lethargica | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | - |
| Paratyphoid | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — |
Scarlet Fever.
The general incidence of Scarlet Fever was low and the type of case mild. No death
resulted from this disease. Cases occurred during each month, the highest number of cases (11)
occurring during January.
During the last week in December, six cases occurred at Fortescue House School, where
approximately 135 boys between the ages of 9 and 14 are in residence. On January 8th, 1937,
the Dick Test (of susceptibility to scarlet fever) was applied and immunization of susceptibles
was commenced. Although this action was taken during 1937 it appears advisable for the sake
of continuity to include it in this report.
In all, 128 were Dick Tested, and of these 52 were found to be susceptible, and these received
four inoculations at fortnightly intervals. In three of the positive cases, who had only had time
to receive their first inoculation, signs of mild Scarlet Fever appeared, in one case one day, in one
case three days, and in one case five days after the inoculation. In no other susceptible child
who had been inoculated did the disease appear and the outbreak ceased.
The result was so striking that it justified the adoption of the procedure in similar
circumstances even when the outbreak has commenced.