[Report 1895] / Medical Officer of Health, Haydock Local Board / U.D.C.

Haydock (England). Local Board.

Date:: 1895

Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: [Report 1895] / Medical Officer of Health, Haydock Local Board / U.D.C. Source: Wellcome Collection.

11/30 (page 5)

5 This statement, however, by no means exhausts the fatal effects of the epidemic, for many children, who for the time being recover from the disease, are left in a condition of greatly impaired vitality, and afterwards fall a prey to Tubercular and other diseases. For some few years to come it is probable that no such severe outbreak of this disease will occur. Scarlet Fever.—During the year 29 cases of this disease have occurred, as against 23 in the previous year. Only 1 case has proved fatal. The first cases occurred in February, after almost an entire absence of the disease for the preceding six months. During the three months of February, March and April, 18 cases occurred, the monthly numbers being respectively 4, 10, and 4. 12 houses in all were infected. It is difficult in many cases to trace the origin of the infection. In one case the patient clearly contracted the disease in Liverpool. Some of the cases notified were very slightly marked, and not easily recognizable. Doubtless other cases of the same type existed where no medical attendance was sought, and these may have been the means of conveying infection to others. Only 1 of this first series of 18 cases was removed to the Hospital, this being an adult suffering concurrently from Scarlet Fever and Diphtheria. As at the end of February it seemed likely that the disease might become widely diffused as an epidemic, I addressed to each of the Schoolmasters and Schoolmistresses] of the various Elementary Schools in the Township a copy of the following letter. “Feb. 23, 1895. Dear Sir (or Madam),—A few cases of Scarlet Fever (or Scarlatina) have been notified to me within the last day or two. I am anxious, therefore, to enlist your aid in limiting as far as possible the spread of the infection. You are doubtless aware that many cases of this disease are so little marked as to pass at first unrecognized. A child may have a very little transient feverish attack, with slight sore throat. There may be no “ rash ” at all, or it may be so ill developed and last so short a time as to be unnoticed. All the time the child may be going about as usual, and attending school. In a little while the skin begins to peel or “ desquamate,” and the child is scattering infection all around. I would suggest, therefore, that if you or your teachers should become aware of any children suffering from sore throat, or presenting any suspicious appearance of rough scaling skin, they shonld be at once sent home, and their parents recommended to get medical advice without delay. Believe me, Dear Sir (or Madam), yours faithfully, T. E. HAYWARD, Medical Officer of Health ” I have to acknowledge the courtesy with whith all those addressed undertook as far as possible to comply with what was desired. Fortunately the disease did not spread so widely as might have been feared from the existence of so many centres of infection. During the past year, as for several years previously'. your Council have continued on my recommendation to supply gratuitously to all notified cases of Scarlet Fever the special “ Eucalyptus Disinfectant,’ first advocated by Dr. Curgenven, It has been claimed for this, that its use would do away with the necessity for isolating cases of Scarlet Fever ; but, even if it had all the power claimed for it, this could only be effectually exerted when applied properly, which, in the absence of skilled nursing at home, cannot always be depended on. However, I have seen myself some cases where its use seemed to have prevented the inleection spreading to other probably susceptible individuals in the same house, and I have iucreasing confidence in advising its continued supply by your Council, as being the next best thing to Hospital isolation, which, however desirable, cannot be in all cases carried out. It may be of interest to note that during the past year, at a meeting of the “Epidemiological Society” a paper on the use and value of this Disinfectant in Scarlet Fever, was read by Dr. Priestley, Medical Officer of Health of Leicester, who had used it in 120 cases of Scarlet Fever at the Leicester Fever Hospital, and had compared the results with those of a nearly similar number of cases treated without it. 7u>t~ As the result of his observation he was convinced that, while he could concede all that was claimed by Dr. Curgenven, the use of this Disinfectant both beneficially affected the course of the disease—as making it less latal and less liable to complications—and shortened the period of infectiveness. After an entire freedom from this disease for the months of May and June peases occurred in July, 1 at a house in New Boston Cottages, and 3 simultaneously in a house at Blackbrook. These were all removed to the Peasley Cross Hospital. No cases occurred in August In September 2 further cases were notified in separate houses. These cases were both removed to the Hospital. 1 case occurred in October, which was kept at home. In November 3 cases were notified in three separate houses, 2 cases were removed, and 1 kept at home. In December 1 case occurred, which was also kept at home. As the result of these removals to the Hospital, six separate centres of infection were got rid of, and they illustrate the advantages of dealing with first cases. When once this disease becomes widely diffused it passes beyond the possibility of being dealt with otherwise than at the patients’ homes. Whooping Cough has been very prevalent during the year, and has accounted for 11 deaths, against 2 from this cause in the previous year. This disease has not been so fatal in any year since 1889. Influenza.—This now much dreaded disease prevailed as a severe epidemic in Haydock during the three months from the middle of January' to the middle of April, and again, to a less extent, in the months of November and December. 3 deaths were registered as due to this disease. As, however, the death-rate from Respiratory Diseases for the year has amounted to 3-20 per 1,000 of the living population as against 2*68 and 1 92 respectively in the years 1893 and 1894, ^ probable that this increase of mortality was also due to the effects of Influenza. A memorandum was issued by Dr. Thorne Thorne, the principal Medical Officer of the Local Government Board, dealing with the now well-established fact of the Infectious nature of the disease, and the precautions which it is desirable to adopt during its prevalence. Universal experience, however, goes to show, to quote from the above mentioned memorandum, that “ Influenza is a disease against which it is most difficult to apply measures of prevention with any substantial prospect of success.” In most cases, and especially in the dwellings of the working classes, it is utterly impossible to attempt any effective measures tor isolating the sick from the healthy. By avoiding “ chill,” and all such causes as tend to lower the general health, individuals may hope that their “ resisting power ” may keep the invading disease-germs at bay.