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
Chiswick 1925
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Chiswick]
This page requires JavaScript
46
unexpected from the clinical standpoint have been found.
"Carriers" form the most difficult factor in the
problem of spread of infection of this disease, as in most cases
they have already started the mischief before they are
discovered. We, however, occasionally find one after the
systematic swabbing of the School children mentioned above.
The attack rate from Diphtheria per 1,000 of the
population for the year was 0.81.
No use was made of the Schick and Dick Tests for
Diphtheria and Scarlet Fever respectively.
PUBLIC HEALTH LABORATORY.
The examinations made at the Council's Laboratory during the past year, were as under:—
| Suspected Disease. | Result. | Totals. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Positive. | Negative. | ||
| Diphtheria | 26 | 410 | 436 |
| Tuberculosis | 27 | 97 | 124 |
| Typhoid Fever | — | 1 | 1 |
| Other Diseases | 6 | 4 | 10 |
N.B.—In addition to the above, a number of Urine examinations were
made in connection with the Maternity and Child Welfare AnteNatal
Clinic.
3. Other Diseases.—Chicken-pox has been notifiable
in the district since December, 1922, and this—having regard
to the very large number of children unvaceinated and the
ease with which exemption from vaccination can be obtained
—is most essential.
The opportunity which I had of visiting the City of
Gloucester during the epidemic there in 1923, has proved
most useful, as on more than one occasion have I been called
in consultation with medical practitioners in bad cases of
Chicken-pox.