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
Sutton and Cheam 1951
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Sutton and Cheam]
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Typhoid and Paratyphoid Fever One case of Paratyphoid
Fever and two cases of Typhoid Fever were notified. All the
cases were contracted abroad. The value of Chloromycetin in
terminating the illness was impressive, but in two cases the
clearance of infection was not accellerated. One case of
Typhoid Fever had clinical relapse ten days after a course of
Chloromycetin and bacteriological relapse after a second course.
The liability to relapse of these infections ten to fourteen
days after completion of a course of Chloromycetin has to be
anticipated, and patients must be kept under close observation
until this danger has passed.
Dysentery. One hundred and six cases were notified. Of
these twenty seven occurred within an institution for children.
All were of the Sonne type. The cases occurred in a series of
outbreaks in schools in the Sutton area. A high carrier rate
among young symptom free children was found by bacteriological
investigations. Dysentery is spread through school by the
frequent contact of hands. The lack of warm water in schools
for the washing of hands makes difficult the inculcation of
this desirable hygienic practice.
Food Poisoning
| No. of Outbreaks | No. Of Cases | No. of Deaths | Organisms or Other Agents | Food Involved |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 0 | S. Typhi Murium | Not ascertained |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | ” ” | ” ” |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | ” ” | Meat roll |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | ” ” | Dried milk |
| 1 | l | 0 | ” ” | Duck's egg |
(1) Two children suffered from gastro enteritis. The
origin of infection was probably from the larder in a house
subject to Infestation with mice.
(2) A man who ate his mid-day meals in a cafe in another
district was Infected. The cafe was found to be infested with
mice.
(3) A man who ate his mid-day meals in another cafe in
another district was infected. The cafe was found to be infested
with mice Seven other members of his household eating food at
home remained well.
(4) A baby, bottle fed, was probably infected through the
mother, a carrier of infection, preparing the feed.
(5) A young lady who developed gastro enteritis had eaten
a lightly fried duck's egg, the only item of food likely to have
caused the infection.
All the cases were due to Salmonella Typhi Murium. This
organism is carried by infected mice. It is conveyed to food
by their excreta or dirts which are often overlooked as they
may be hidden on or behind stored food.
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