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
Battersea 1919
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Battersea, Metropolitan Borough of]
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30
Whooping Cough.
During 1919, in the Borough of Battersea, six deaths wore
registered from whooping-cough, as compared with 59 in 1918.
As the disease is not compulsorily notifiable, our information
as to its incidence is mainly derived from school-teachers.
Precautionary measures so far as practicable are taken in
connection with this dangerous disease of early childhood.
Visits are paid to the homes of children who are reported to
be suffering from whooping-cough, and advice is given by the
Health Visitors to the mothers to seek timely medical assistance,
especially in regard to the younger children. Arrangements
are also made for the provision of nursing attendance
where required.
The following is a summary of the work carried out by the Council's and the Voluntary Associations' Health Visiting Staffs during 1919:—
| First Visits. | Total Visits. | |
|---|---|---|
| Visits to expectant mothers | 233 | 439 |
| Visits to notified births | 1,852 | 4,623 |
| Visits to children, age 1 to 5 | 277 | 484 |
| Visits to enqiure into infant deaths | 8 | 8 |
| Visits to cases of infectious diseases | 834 | 1,869 |
| Other visits | 342 | — |
| Attendances at Maternity Centres | 619 | — |
| By Voluntary Trained Health Visitors | 960 | 3,428 |
| Municipal Clinic. | Voluntary Clinic. | Total. |
|---|---|---|
| 123 | 9 | 132 |