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 1931
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Port of London]
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Table C.
Cases of Infectious Sickness landed from Vessels.
| Disease. | Number of Cases during 1931. Passengers. Crew. | Average Number of Cases for previous 5 years. | Number of vessels concerned. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small-pox | — | — | 2-2 | — |
| Scarlet Fever | 1 | 3 | 13-0 | 4 |
| Diphtheria | — | 2 | 10-8 | 2 |
| Enteric Fever | 1 | 7 | 21-8 | 8 |
| Measles | 1 | — | 12-8 | 1 |
| German Measles | — | — | 13-4 | — |
| Erysipelas | — | — | 1-2 | — |
| Continued Fever | — | — | 0-6 | — |
| Pulmonary Tuberculosis | 49 | 36 | 63-8 | 72 |
| Tuberculosis (other kinds) | — | 3 | 2-4 | 3 |
| Pneumonia | 7 | 15 | 13-8 | 16 |
| Influenza | — | 9 | 4-0 | 8 |
| Cerebro-spinal Meningitis | — | 1 | 0-2 | 1 |
| Dysentery | — | 5 | 11-2 | 5 |
| Encephalitis Lethargica | — | — | 0-2 | — |
| Malaria | — | 12 | 17-4 | 9 |
| Chicken-pox | 6 | 13 | 16-2 | 12 |
| Kemittent and Relapsing Fever | — | — | 0-2 | — |
| Parotitis | — | 19 | — | 5 |
| Note.—The following cases of infectious disease occurred on board Training Ships moored in the River Thames:— Diphtheria 4. | ||||
Table D.
Cases of Infectious Sickness occurring on Vessels during the Voyage, but disposed of prior to arrival.
| Disease. | Number of Cases during 1931. Passengers. Crew. | Average Number of Cases for previous 5 years. | Number of vessels concerned. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cholera | — | 8-0 | ||
| Plague | — | — | 0.8 | — |
| Yellow Fever | — | — | 0.4 | — |
| Small-pox | — | 14 | 5 | |
| Scarlet Fever | 1 | — | 2.8 | 1 |
| Diphtheria | 2 | 1 | 3.0 | 2 |
| Enteric Fever | 7 | 8 | 26.0 | 15 |
| Measles | 8 | 39.2 | 9 | |
| German Measles | 3 | — | 5.0 | 3 |
| Erysipelas | — | 2 | ||
| Continued Fever | — | — | 1.2 | — |
| Pulmonary Tuberculosis | 48 | 14 | 36.0 | 45 |
| Tuberculosis (other kinds) | — | 1 | 1.2 | 1 |
| Pneumonia | 14 | 16 | 32.2 | 27 |
| Influenza | 261 | 207 | 71.0 | 16 |
| Cerebro-spinal Meningitis | — | 0.2 | 1 | |
| Dysentery | 9 | 6 | 15.0 | 12 |
| Encephalitis Lethargica | — | — | 0.6 | — |
| Malaria | 29 | 77 | 80.4 | 48 |
| Chicken-pox | 12 | 19 | 31.6 | 19 |
| Remittent and Relapsing Fever | — | — | — | — |
| Parotitis | 1 | — | ||
Cholera.
The ss. "Malancha" arrived at Gravesend on 11/4/31, having left Calcutta on
6/8/31. On 11/3/31 a native Greaser was taken ill. He was isolated in the ship's
hospital, and on 12/3/31 was landed to hospital at Colombo, where the diagnosis of
Cholera was confirmed bacteriologically. The vessel was quarantined at Colombo
from 12/3/31 to 16/3/31, where the water tanks were emptied, cleansed and refilled
and the infected quarters and hospital were disinfected. No other case occurred.
Small-pox.
ss. "Matheran."—On 30th January the Ministry of Health forwarded a copy
of a telegram from the Quarantine Board of Egypt to the effect that the ss. "Matheran"