London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Merton and Morden 1945

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Merton & Morden]

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Diphtheria. Twelve civilian cases were finally diagnosed
as Diphtheria during the year as compared with a new low
record of 8 for the previous year. There was one death from
this disease during the year.
Measles. Measles seems almost to have changed from a
biennial to an annual epidemic. There were 760 cases notified
during the year. The number of cases has been almost up to
epidemic scale each year for the past six years. In 1941 there
were over 2,000 cases, in 1942—942, 1943—433, and in 1944
there were 252. In addition to losing its biennial character
it seems also to have lost much of its severity and this year,
out of 760 cases, there were no deaths. It has long been
recognised that Measles took its toll mainly from the illnourished
and that poverty has always played a significant
part in the mortality and consequent morbidity. It is justifiable
to assume that the better general standards of nutrition among
these age groups, and the relatively high level of social and
economic standards prevailing among this population, constitute
an important contribution towards this result.
Whooping Cough. According to the notifications received
Whooping Cough was less prevalent than in the previous year,
77 cases being notified as against 183 in the previous year.
There were no deaths from this disease.
Anterior Poliomyelitis. Two cases of Infantile Paralysis
were notified during the year, one of which received
hospital treatment. There were no deaths,
Cerebro-Spinal Fever. Three cases were notified during
the year and received hospital treatment. In one ease the
patient succumbed to the infection.
Erysipelas. Fifteen notifications were received during the
year and of this number 14 were treated at home and one
received hospital treatment.
Food Poisoning. No case of food poisoning was notified
during the year.
Ophthalmia Neonatorum. Twelve cases were notified, of
which 9 were in hospital and 3 at home. In 11 cases recovery
was complete and vision remained unimpaired. In one case
the vision was lost.
Pneumonia. There were 71 cases of Pneumonia, of which
5 were stated to be influenzal in origin. The number of cases
notified in the previous year was 46.
Puerperal Pyrexia. There were 4 notifications of Puerperal
Pyrexia, giving a rate of 3.8 per thousand total births. Of the
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