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
Heston and Isleworth 1962
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Heston and Isleworth]
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dose following two injections to 2,223 persons, 2 injections to 992 persons and
third injections to 1,689 persons
TYPHOID FEVER One case of typhoid fever was notified during the year and
the infection was contracted abroad.
PARATYPHOID FEVER No notification was received during the year
DYSENTERY This disease shows great variations in prevalence from year to
year and from place to place During the year 42 cases were notified
The infection in all cases was of the Sonne type and the illness was mild in
practically every case. The mildness of the illness is such tha.t medical advice is
not always sought, and unless the disease is kept constantly in mind, cases are
likely to be missed.
TUBERCULOSIS During the year 28 notifications of pulmonary tuberculosis,
and 5 notifications of non-pulmonary tuberculosis were received Persons continue
to be certified as dying from tuberculosis who have not been notified during life,
but it is hoped that with the improved facilities for diagnosis and treatment now
available, any reluctance to seek investigation and treatment will disappear.
The trend of the Borough death rate from tuberculosis is shown below;-
| Tuberculosis Death Rate per 100,000 Population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Pulmonary | Non-pulmonary | Total | |
| 1930-1934 | 67.5 | 11.5 | 78.9 |
| 1935-1939 | 52.3 | 8.2 | 60. 4 |
| 1940-1944 | 55.8 | 7. 4 | 63.2 |
| 1945-1949 | 39.1 | 6.7 | 45. 8 |
| 1950-1954 | 18.9 | 1.1 | 20.0 |
| 1955-1959 | 8.4 | 0.3 | 8.7 |
| 1960 | 3.8 | 0.0 | 3 8 |
| 1961 | 10.7 | 0.0 | 10.7 |
| 1962 | 3.9 | 1.0 | 4.9 |
A permanent mass X-ray unit has been established at West Middlesex Hospital
and is open to the public without appointment During the year 747 children were
inoculated with B. C. G. vaccine as a protection against tuberculosis
OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM Three cases were notified during the year. All occurred
in hospital
PUERPERAL PYREXIA During the year 95 cases were notified as compared with
122 cases in 1961 No woman died from puerperal or post-abortion sepsis and none
of the infections was severe. All the cases, except one, arose in hospital
MEASLES This was not a year of measles prevalence and 207 cases were notified
as compared with 1,437 in 1961.
WHOOPING COUGH- There were 3 cases of whooping cough notified as compared
with 14 cases in 1961. Facilities for immunisation against this disease are available,
and 380 babies were inoculated The condition is most fatal in young babies,
and protection should be provided before the child is six months old There is
evidence that the protection, if not complete, does mitigate the severity of the
attack,
MALARIA No case of malaria was notified during the year
INFLUENZA. Influenza caused 9 deaths as compared with 7 deaths in 1961-
MUMPS, CHICKEN POX GERMAN MEASLES. These diseases are not notifiable, but
cases are brought to the notice of the Department through schools, health visitors,
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