[Report 1947] / Medical Officer of Health, Gloucester City & Port.

  • Gloucester (England). City and Port Council.
Date:
1947
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1947] / Medical Officer of Health, Gloucester City & Port. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    INTRODUCTION Again, in 1947, the amount of infectious disease was generally less, except for tuberculosis and venereal diseases. There were more cases of measles and whooping cough than of late years, but as the notification rates for both these diseases swing violently their fluctuations are not so significant. In the absence of any effective preventative measures against measles, attention can only be given to home care and nursing and the admission to hospital of complicated cases. Similarly for whooping cough, though immunisation against it is practised by many doctors, often combined with diphtheria. Unfortunately, the results are uncertain and the immunity is short- lived. Nevertheless, as these two diseases are now the most serious threat to the health and even lives of young children every possible nursing care should be given. 1947 was remarkable for a nation wide epidemic of Poliomyelitis. Locally, cases were admitted to Over Hospital from the City and all the areas with whom agreements exist; in addition cases were admitted from Cirencester Urban and Rural areas. As in all epidemics, a number of cases resembling the disease were also admitted for observation ; this is particularly noticeable in diseases like Poliomyelitis where the onset is so insidious. Most of the cases returned to their homes direct, but where prolonged treatment was required and nursing was impossible in their homes, cases were transferred to the City General Hospital once the fever and presumably infectious stage was over. The ready willingness of Dr. Humphreys and his staff at the City^ General Hospital to admit and treat these difficult and long-stay cases was greatly appreciated. Venereal Diseases. Table A is inserted to emphasise the amount of disease in the community, as judged by the special clinics. It is likely that patients are more willing to attend for treatment of recent years because of the publicity given to the dangers of neglect. They are also encouraged by learning the shortness of the treatment since the introduction of the sulphonamide drugs and penicillin. (In passing, it should not be thought that these drugs dispense with the need for the older drugs entirely). Even so, the rise in attendances at the clinics since the beginning of the war has been steady, and there was an extra increase in 1946. This latter is probably only apparent, and is explained by the number of Service cases who were being treated in Service hospitals before their release, and who transferred to civilian clinics for the completion of their treatment. The figures for 1947 revert to the previous order, but are still above those for 1945. The figures for 1946 and 1947 show a particularly great increase in syphilis. The table shows the great increase since 1943 in the number of patients .who attend for examination but who are found to be free of venereal infection. In that year was given the first straight talk on Venereal Diseases over the Wireless ; the talk was given by the Chief Medical Officer to the Ministry of Health and it marked a turning point in the public attitude to this problem. Tuberculosis No improvement can yet be reported in tuberculosis of the lungs. Though in fact, a few more cases were notified than in 1946, yet the numbers of the last seven years are approximately level.