[Report 1904] / Medical Officer of Health, Hereford City.

  • Hereford (England). City Council.
Date:
1904
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1904] / Medical Officer of Health, Hereford City. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Compulsory Notification was adopted in January, 1890, conse- quently it lias been in force for 15 years. 11 we divide this into 3 periods of 5 years each, the subjoined comparative results are afforded us. PERIODS. X oTIl h \TloNS. Treated in Isolation Hosrn al. Total Deaths. Rati: or Attack Per 1000 OF Pol'Ul.ATION. Death Rati; Per 1000 OK Poitkation. 1890 to IS!M 441 During only the '2 years 1893 .V 1S94 . o.3 •20 4-31 019 1893to IS!Ill turn During 5 years 175 l 3 44 0-00 1900 to 1904 •213 1)uring 5 years 140 (i 1 •9(> 0-05 15 Years 1014 Dm mg 1'2 years 368 j 33 Average 3”23 Average 0'ln Return Cases. This subject was treated in detail in my Report for 1903. It is again and again confirmed that the occurrence of a certain proportion of ' Return cases is inevitable, and that they occur everywhere from Isolation Hospitals where particular attention is paid to cleansing of the hair and skin, to the use of antiseptic lotions for the nose and mouth, to examination of discharges from the ears, to antiseptic baths previous to discharge, and to disinfection of the clothes of the patient. Such recurrence being beyond human knowledge and control, it is impossible to guarantee freedom from infection after the discharge of a patient. The parents or guardians are given printed instructions as to the most prudent methods to be adopted upon the return of a patient to his home. It is a gratification that not a single “ Return case from the Hospital has occurred during 1904. Home-infecl ions occurring in the same house after removal of the patient, including home-treated cases, amount to a total of 36 in 14 infected homes of Scarlet Fever and Diphtheria collectively ; in some cases an interval of apparent immunity for 4 or 5 week- intervened subsequent to the first attack. The removal of the patient immediately upon the receipt of the notification has been carried out with remarkable despatch, as well by night as in the daylight, often in most inclement weather, and sometimes under difficulties into which I will not enter. It would be unpardonable if I omitted to give my testimony that unforeseen contingencies have been surmounted by the discretion, zeal, activity, and mutual co-operation of the Matron of the Hospital and the Sanitary Inspector; their actions in emergencies have been cool, decisive, successful, unknown save to the few concerned, and highly deserving of credit. Towards the expeditious execution of much of their work the telephonic communication has proved a valuable auxiliary.