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
City of London 1924
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Port of London]
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TABLE XXII.—M iscellaneous D iseases.
| Aneurism of Aorta | 2 C., 1 died. | Brought forward | 171 |
| Anaemia | 3C.,1 died. | ||
| Hodgkin's Disease | 1 P., died. | ||
| Anthrax | 1 Dk. worker. | ||
| Heat Stroke | 3 C., 2 died. | ||
| Apoplexy | 1 P., died. | ||
| Hepatitis | 1 C. | ||
| Appendicitis | 5 C. | ||
| Impetigo | 1 P. | ||
| Abscess | 3 C. | ||
| Intestinal Obstruction | 1 C. | ||
| Beri-Beri | 9 C., 3 died. | ||
| Inguinal Adenitis | 1 | ||
| Bronchitis and Bronchial | |||
| Jaundice | 1 C. | ||
| Catarrh | 5 C. | Meningitis | 2 1 P. died. |
| Boils | 2 C. | ||
| Mumps | 5 P. | ||
| Cerebral Embolism | 1 P., died. | ||
| Morbus Cordis | 2 C. | ||
| Congestion of Lungs | 2 C. | ||
| Malignant Endocarditis | 1 C. | ||
| Cerebral Haemorrhage | 1 C., died. | ||
| Nerves | 1 C. | ||
| Constipation | 1 C. | ||
| Neuralgia | 1 | ||
| Colitis | 3 1C,2 P. | ||
| Neurasthenia | 1 | ||
| Cerebral Tumour | 1 P., died. | ||
| Nephritis | 3 1 P. died. | ||
| Cancer | 1 P. | ||
| Old Age | 1 | ||
| Carbuncle | 1 c. | ||
| Pyrexia | 6 | ||
| Dengue | 90 1 P. died. | ||
| Pleurisy | 3 | ||
| 1 C. died. | Pertussis | 1 | |
| 52 on one ship ; 15 on another. | Pleural Effusion | 1 | |
| Rheumatism | 1 | ||
| Sprue | 1 P. | ||
| Diarrhoea | 3 C. | ||
| Septic Adenitis | 1 C. | ||
| Delirium Tremens | 1 C. | ||
| Senile Decay | 5 Pilgrims, all died. | ||
| Drowning | 1 P. | ||
| Ear Disease | 1 P. | ||
| Skin Rash | 1 | ||
| Enlarged Glands | 1 | ||
| Seven-day Fever | 5 C. | ||
| Febricula | 4 C. | ||
| Septic Throat | 1 | ||
| Gastro Enteritis | 1 P. | ||
| Scabies | 1 C. | ||
| Gallstones | 1 C. | ||
| Scalded Foot | 1 C. | ||
| Gastric Ulcer | 1 C., died. | ||
| Tonsillitis | 3 2C,1 P. | ||
| Gastritis | 16 12 P., 4 C. | ||
| Three-day Fever | 24 C & P. On one ship. | ||
| Gonorrhoeal Rheumatism | 1 C. | ||
| Hernia | 2 C. | ||
| Whooping Cough | 4 P. | ||
| Heart Disease | 6 C., 1 died. | ||
| Carried forward | 171 | Total | 256 |
Note.—C. =Crew ; P.=Passenger.
In view of a certain amount of " slackness " in the declaration of cases of
illness (infectious or otherwise) which occurred on vessels during the voyage, your
Medical Officer caused the following circular letter and " Notice to Masters and
Officers in Charge of Vessels " to be sent to Shipping Companies trading with the
Port of London :—
Gentlemen,
I have to bring to your attention the extreme importance of the medical inspection of
ships entering the Port of London, and would ask that the facilities afforded for expedition
by the Port of London Sanitary Authority, which are equal, I believe, to those of any Port
in the world, be met by your masters, surgeons and pilots with as utter facilitation of the
work of Medical Officers at Gravesend as is possible ; especially the arriving ship should have
such time at her disposal on reaching Gravesend that the work of the Medical Officer in the
examination of the state of the ship with regard to illnesses which have occurred during the
voyage, may be thoroughly carried out.
In cases where a few minutes may make all the difference between orderly examination
and satisfactory information, or otherwise, the master of the incoming ship should not
expect the benefit of these few minutes at the expense of a thorough medical examination,
but should give every facility, including sufficient time for this, free from hurry as to saving
tides or other bustle attendant on arrival.
The medical inspection must be met as one which requires fuller time than that sometimes
allotted to it.
Your obedient servant,
(Signed) W. M. WILLOUGHBY,
Medical Officer of Health,
Port of London.