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
Brentford and Chiswick 1936
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Brentford and Chiswick]
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The epidemic started in the Brentford area in February
and continued until July. In Chiswick it started in March and
was all over by the end of May.
Whooping Cough.—There were few eases until May, after
which the numbers increased and showed no signs of abatement
throughout the rest of the year. The majority of cases occurred
in the Chiswick area.
Mumps.—An epidemic appeared in October, 1935 and did
not abate until April, 1936. Rather more cases were found in
the Chiswick than the Brentford Schools.
Influenza.—There was no epidemic of this disease until
after the schools broke up for the Christmas holidays.
The prevalence of infectious diseases in the schools compared with that of the eight previous years is shown in the following table :—
| 1928 | 1929 | 1930 | 1931 | 1932 | 1933 | 1934 | 1935 | 1936 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scarlet Fever | 94 | 88 | 102 | 71 | 337 | 550 | 358 | 126 | 170 |
| Diphtheria | 49 | 109 | 139 | 75 | 46 | 153 | 65 | 71 | 21 |
| Chicken Pox | 135 | 429 | 239 | 357 | 173 | 347 | 242 | 229 | 306 |
| Measles | 1050 | 70 | 680 | 69 | 895 | 60 | 585 | 43 | 886 |
| Whooping Cough | 449 | 429 | 65 | 230 | 295 | 167 | 206 | 316 | 238 |
| Mumps | 622 | 423 | 178 | 275 | 57 | 37 | 445 | 493 | 554 |
| Influenza | 282 | 227 | 161 | 183 | 124 | 117 | 60 | 9 | 12 |
7.—FOLLOWING UP.
The following up of children found to be defective and
referred for treatment or for observation at Routine and
Special Inspections, is undertaken both by the School Nurses
and the School Medical Officer and may be summarised as
follows :—
School Nurses.
(a) Home Visiting.—(1) of children excluded for uneleanliness
; (2) of those whose parents have neglected or refused
treatment which is considered necessary; (3) of those needing
treatment whose parents were not present at the inspection ;
(4) to explain certain forms of home treatment advised by the
School Medical Officer ; (5) to obtain certain special information
required by the School Medical Officer.
Number of visits made : 1,505.