London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Heston and Isleworth 1908
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Heston and Isleworth]
This page requires JavaScript
42
The cases arising in public institutions situated in the district,
so far as can be estimated from the notifications received from
such institutions during the year, were as follows:—
Infirmary, 16 (Scarlet Fever 7, Diphtheria 1, Erysipelas 5,
Typhoid Fever 2, Puerperal Fever 1).
Gordon House School (London County Council) 15, all
of which were Scarlet Fever.
Mogden Hospital, 1 (Scarlet Fever).
A considerable number of the notified cases of Scarlet Fever
that occurred in Gordon House School were removed to one of
the Hospitals of the Metropolitan Asylums Board for treatment.
It is not always possible to obtain complete records on this matter, but the following table shows the numbers of children who were notified during the year as suffering from Scarlet Fever, Diphtheria or Typhoid Fever, and were known to be attending schools in the district
| Disease. | Council Schools. | Private Schools. | Industrial Schools. | Total. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scarlet Fever | 39 | 3 | 16 | 58 |
| Diphtheria | 19 | 4 | 2 | 25 |
| Typhoid Fever | 1 | — | — | 1 |
| 59 | 7 | 18 | 84 |
The three chief infectious diseases that are not notifiable are
Measles, Whooping.cough and Chicken.pox. The last of these
has never been included in the list of notifiable diseases in this
district, even at such times as during outbreaks of Small.pox.
It is hardly ever a fatal complaint and its main danger is in being
sometimes mistaken for Small.pox. Special means are provided
n this district to guard against that danger. The precautions have
hitherto worked extremely well and have been fully explained in
previous reports.