[Report 1906] / Medical Officer of Health, Loughborough Borough.

Loughborough (England). Borough Council.

Date:: 1906

Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1906] / Medical Officer of Health, Loughborough Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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DIPHTHERIA. One case of this disease was notified, which is four less than last year, and five below the average of the last ten years. The case was traceable to local insanitary conditions, and an impure water supply. SCARLET FEVER. Thirty-two cases of this disease were notified ; this is 163 less than last year, and 94 below the average of the last ten years, and the type of the cases was decidedly mild. Many were not notified until the desquamative period, and there was no mortality from this cause. ERYSIPELAS. Twenty cases of this disease were notified, which is three less than last year, and one below the average of the last ten years. The type of the disease was generally mild, and one death is registered as due to this cause. The cases were not associated with local insanitary conditions. ENTERIC FEVER. Eighteen cases of this disease were notified, which is five more than last year, but is five below the average of the last ten years. The first outbreak (a serious one) occurred at Falcon Street, about the middle of August, and formed the subject of a special report. It was caused by drinking impure water outside the Borough; medical advice was not procured until two weeks after this first case fell ill; the family was over¬ crowded and the house and furniture very dirty. The disease spread rapidly and seven members of the family became ill and were removed to the Isolation Hospital. On the 17th September two occupants of the adjoining house developed the disease and were also removed to Hospital. This was, in my opinion, an extension from the first family by direct infection. The next case occurred in Regent Street, on September 25th, for which no cause could be assigned. Another isolated case occurred in Rectory Place, on October 6th ; there was no visible cause. The next case, also a single one, occurred at Granville Street, on the 11th October, and was attributed to drinking impure water outside the Borough. The next two cases occurred in one house, at Thorpe Acre, just inside the Borough, and were attributable to drinking contaminated water. There was also a single case reported at Warner’s Lane, which was probably due to eating shell fish at the sea side. Another single case was notified at Gladstone Avenue, for which no cause could be assigned. A single case was also notified at Toothill Road, and was thought to be due to drinking impure water. Two of these cases terminated fatally, and all except two were removed to and treated at the Isolation Hospital. The great value of the Isolation Hospital becomes manifest when one sees in the Falcon Street out¬ break seven members of one family, and two of the family next door, attacked by the disease in a few weeks ; and in all the other instances where the cases were carefully isolated no such spread of the disease occurred. PHTHISIS. Voluntary notification of this disease is invited by the Corporation from Medical Practitioners. • Twenty such cases were notified ; there were, however, twenty-six deaths from this disease. I am of opinion that there is a great advantage in the notification of Phthisis, as the leaflets which are distributed must have the effect of awakening in the minds of the patients and those who live with them the value of ventilation, warm clothing, suitable food, &c., and the periodical disinfection of the rooms occupied by the patients, undoubtedly has a salutary effect. CEREBRO-SPINAL FEVER. One case of this disease was notified. MEASLES. The epidemic of the last three months of 1905 continued during the first two months of 1906, and caused five deaths of children under five years. There were no cases after February. [2]