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

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Walthamstow 1902

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]

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83
There were 16 fatal cases during the year. Of these, 9 were Diphtheria,
6 Scarlet Fever, and 1 Scarlet Fever and Diphtheria.
The operation of Tracheotomy was performed in two cases: one
died from syncope thirty-six hours after the operation.
There were several cases of Post-Diphtheritic Paralysis, 3 of which
were of a severe type. One convalescent Diphtheria patient developed
a well-marked Herpes of the leg.
Among the Scarlet Fever patients, there were 3 who suffered from
Nephritis, 4 from Bronchitis, 5 from Abscesses in the neck, and 1
from Facial Paralysis. One patient was admitted with burns of head
and neck. One patient developed Chicken Pox shortly after admission,
while another had Erysipelas.
As there is with the present arrangement an inevitable delay in
hearing the result of Bacteriological examinations, it is suggested that
it would be desirable to have facilities for such examinations provided
in the Hospital.
J. D. CAMERON.
TYPHOID FEVER.
Eighty-nine cases of Enteric Fever were notified during the year, as
compared with 73 in 1901, 86 in 1900, 119 in 1899, 76 in 1898,
78 in 1897, and 193 in 1896.
On page 21 will be seen the number of cases occurring in each
month during the year.
In February we had only one case, but in October they had risen
to 15, the greatest number notified in any month.
Of the 89 cases notified, 32 were removed to various hospitals, the
remainder were treated at their homes. The 89 cases occurred in 81
different houses, and caused 13 deaths, 4 being between 5 and 15 years
of age, 3 between 15 and 25 years, and 6 between 25 and 65 years.
The cases were distributed all over the district, and could not be
traced to water or milk contamination, careful enquiries being made
in each case.
The following diagram shows at a glance the number of cases for
12 months:—
c