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 1963
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Brentford and Chiswick]
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Diphtheria
No case of diphtheria occurred during the year. The last confirmed case
of diphtheria in the Borough occurred in 1948,
Information concerning immunisation against diphtheria in the Borough during 1963 has been supplied by the Area Medical Officer,, and is as follows -
| Number of children who | Age | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1 | l | 2-4 | 5 14 | ||
| 262 | 329 | 58 | 383 | 1, 032 | |
| (182) | (260) | (25) | (34) | (501) | |
| 187 | 142 | 287 | 616 | ||
| (3) | (182) | (127) | (180) | (492) | |
(Figures for 1962 are shown in brackets )
These figures are much more satisfactory in 1963 the use of a Triple
Vaccine - Diphtheria Pertussis and Tetanus seems to bring in the mothers of
young infants better as this combined with a substitution of oral for injected
poliomyelitis vaccine greatly lessens the number of injections required.
Food Poisoning
Forty-three notifications of food poisoning were received during the year.
One case was confirmed bacteriologically one was confirmed as Sonne Dysentery
and the remaining 41 were not confirmed.
In November complaints were received that a number of scholars attending
Chiswick Polytechnic were suffering from abdominal symptoms - food poisoning
was suspected The premises were visited inspected and the canteen methods and
production overhauled Specimens were taken of water, milk tea coffee detergent
throat swabs faeces specimens and a specimen from a hand wound were
taken and submitted for investigation all proved negative for infectious
organisms. A doctor of the staff of the Ministry of Health and a doctor of the
Medical Research Council were kind enough to come over to assist with the investigations
and it was eventually decided that the condition had been one of virus
origin Although the number of people affected amounted to 154 (students and
staff) there was no prolonged sickness and no complications were reported.
The occurrence disturbed the school programme considerably, but the headmaster
and staff were very helpful. Certain improvements in the methods of preparing,
handling and serving of food, and in the system of dish washing and waste food
disposal were suggested to Middlesex County Council.
Dysentery
Four notifications of dysentery were received. None were confirmed bacteriologically.
One case notified as food poisoning was subsequently confirmed
as a case of Sonne dysentery.
One case notified as Sonne dysentery to another authority of a boarding
school boy whose home was in Chiswick, was clear on his return to the Borough.
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