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 Richmond]
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on 15th June, 1968, superseded this Order, and the disease is now notifiable throughout
the country.
During the year 49 cases were notified, all of which were investigated. In one
episode which involved 11 cases, it was possible to trace the infection passing by per'
sonal contact to children attending the same school and to visitors to the home address,
but the actual cause of the infection was not discovered.
Smallpox.
No cases of smallpox were notified during the year.
Under the Public Health (Aircraft) Regulations, 1966, and the Public Health
(Ships) Regulations, 1966 arrivals in this country from endemic areas who are not in
possession of valid international certificates of vaccination against Smallpox are placed
under surveillance by the Port or Airport Medical Officer for a period of fourteen days.
36 such cases of persons proceeding to addresses situated in the Borough were
notified during the year. All were kept under surveillance for the stipulated period.
On the 1st March the department was notified by the Chief Medical Officer,
Ministry of Health of a suspect case of smallpox in a Pakistani boy aged 15 years, who
had travelled by air from Karachi to London on Saturday, 24th February, 1968,
reported to the family doctor on the 27th February and was admitted to Long Reach
Hospital, Dartford on the evening of the 29th February The case was later confirmed.
Between arrival in this country and admission to hospital, the boy stayed at an
address in the Westminster area at a house in multiple occupation. Information was
received from the Westminster City Council that linen and clothing thought to be
contaminated by the case had been sent to a laundry in the Barnes area. In consequence,
the laundry was disinfected, and all workers in the laundry in question, vaccinated,
except one. Surveillance of the laundry workers continued for the next two weeks.
I am indebted to Dr. N. Rosedale for the following statistics of the patients treated at the Special Clinic at West Middlesex Hospital: —
New Cases | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Syphilis | Gonorrhoea | Other Conditions | Total | |
West Middlesex | 10 | 53 | 265 | 328 |
1 he number of patients treated at Special Clinics at other hospitals is:—
New Cases | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Syphilis | Gonorrhoea | Other Conditions | Total | |
The London | — | 1 | 15 | 16 |
St. Thomas | — | 3 | 24 | 27 |
St. Helier | — | 2 | 9 | 11 |
Publicity for Treatment of Venereal Disease.
As a result of enquiries made, it was found that apart from a few defaced notices,
there was no publicity on the treatment of venereal disease in the Public Conveniences
in the Borough.
The problem of defacement is a very real one and during the year the Council
decided to issue indestructible notices for display in these establishments.
Medical Arrangements for Long-stay Immigrants.
The number of immigrants who gave destination addresses situated in this Borough
showed a considerable increase compared with 1967.
All destination addresses are visited by Public Health Inspectors who advise
immigrants of the scope and arrangements of the National Health Service and every
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