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14
During the Spring and early Summer, 1925, an outbreak
of Chickenpox occurred in which many of the cases were of a
severe type. The Medical Officer of Health was called into
consultation by several different private Practitioners in regard
to cases suspected to be Smallpox. In one case the diagnosis
was so very doubtful that I deemed it advisable to seek the
opinion of Dr. Wanklyn, the consulting specialist for Smallpox
of the London County Council. Dr. Wanklyn very kindly at
once came to see the child. Fortunately this case, as also all
the others, proved not to be Smallpox.
In November, 1925, a severe outbreak of Measles occurred.
The cases were fairly evenly distributed throughout the
Borough. Though Measles is not notifiable in West Ham, the
great majority of cases come to the knowledge of the Medical
Officer of Health by means of the Health Visitors, the School
Attendance Officers, and other sources. The homes were
visited, advice given, special leaflets distributed and, in addition,
posters published on all the hoardings throughout the Borough.
(See page 32.)
At the time of writing (March, 1926) the epidemic is greatly
on the wane, but it has, nevertheless, caused the death of a
number of children and impaired the general health of many
others. Isolation of the cases, except in very severe or complicated
cases which are able to be admitted to hospital is, in
the main, impracticable, owing to the grossly over-crowded
condition of so many of the dwellings.
General Provision of Health Services.
HOSPITALS,
(1) The Plaistow Fever Hospital (opened as two wards in
1896 and as to the computed Hospital designed by the late
Edwin T. Hall in 1901) now contains 210 beds, originally allocated
for the reception of scarlet fever, diphtheria and
enteric fever cases, with 15 isolation beds for mixed or staff
cases. The variable incidence of these diseases in recent years
has enabled the Medical Superintendent to receive and treat
many other infectious cases as well as to admit special cases for
teaching purposes, including severe Measles, Tubercular Peritonitis,
Encephalitis Lethargica, etc.
(2) Dagenham Smallpox Hospital, situate about 9 miles
from the Borough, occupies a site of 6½ acres, enclosed within
the Rookery farm of 119 acres, owned and cultivated by the