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
Richmond upon Thames 1966
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Richmond]
This page requires JavaScript
From the table below it will be seen that the first five; years of childhood suffer the major incidence of the disease and the sexes are affected equally :
| M. | F. | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1 year | 17 | 19 | 36 |
| 1 year | 44 | 35 | 79 |
| 2 years | 55 | 60 | 115 |
| 3 years | 65 | 66 | 131 |
| 4 years | 46 | 70 | 116 |
| 5 — 9 years | 211 | 171 | 382 |
| 10 — 14 years | 5 | 8 | 13 |
| 15 — 24 years | 3 | 4 | 7 |
| 25 + | 3 | 6 | 9* |
| T otal | 449 | 439 | 888 |
(* includes 3 age unknown).
The histogram on page 12 shows that the incidence of measles was comparatively
high for a "non-measles" year. It may be that the limited trial of immunisation against
the disease, started at the end of 1964 and continued through 1965, has interfered with
the circulation of the wild virus. This may then represent but the beginning of the
"flattening out" of the incidence curve of the disease, which it is hoped will be reduced
as effective immunisation is extended to all children at risk.
There were no cases of food poisoning notified during the year.
| 1962 | 14 | 1965 | 6 |
| 1963 | 6 | 1966 | — |
| 1964 | 8 |
Leptospirosis — Weil's Disease
To ensure that this Authority pursues a policy similar to that of the Greater
London Council in this regard, the following procedures in advising sewermen employed
by the Council were put into operation :
1. The inclusion in the present handbook issued to all Corporation sewermen of
a note saying how the disease can be contracted and the preventive steps
which should be taken.
2. The issue of a green Medical Card to each sewerman for presentation to his
family doctor whenever the former has occasion to consult the latter. This
card advises men working in contact with sewage and suggests that upon
receipt of the card it should be taken to the personal medical attendant for
signature in the appropriate place. Notes on the disease are also included
for the information of family doctors.
All family doctors in the area were notified of the issue of these cards.
In August 1966 a report was received from the Medical Officer of Health of Great
Yarmouth regarding the death from Weil's Disease of a holiday maker in the area.
Although not a resident of this Borough, it was thought that the infection might have
been contracted by the deceased in the River Thames as he was a member of a local
Canoe Club.
11