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 1909

Report on the health of the Metropolitan Borough of Battersea for the year 1909

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Table: The number of deaths from phthisis and other tubercular diseases, and the death-rate per 1,000 of the population in each of the sub-districts and the Borough, is set out in the following table:—

The number of deaths from phthisis and other tubercular diseases, and the death-rate per 1,000 of the population in each of the sub-districts and the Borough, is set out in the following table:—

District.Phthisis.Other Tubercular Diseases.Total.
No. of Deaths.Rate.No. of Deaths.Rate.No. of Deaths.Rate.
East Battersea971·25370·471341·72
Nth.-West Battersea721·45220·44941·90
Sth.-West Battersea480·81130·21611·03
The Borough2171·16720·382891·55

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The highest rates were, it will be noted, in North-West and
East Battersea. These two districts are inhabited by a large
number of the poorer classes, whose circumstances render them
more vulnerable to attack than those more fortunately situate.
The deaths from tuberculosis were 11.9 of the total deaths.
It will be seen, however, that the death-rate from phthisis (the
most common form of tubercular disease) was in 1909 1.16, or
.03 lower than in 1908, and .04 lower than in 1907.
PREVENTIVE MEASURES.
Public Health (Tuberculosis) Regulations.
At the beginning of 1909 the Public Health (Tuberculosis)
Regulations came into force. The Regulations provide for the
compulsory notification (within 48 hours) to the Medical Officer
of Health of cases of phthisis occurring amongst Poor Law
patients. Prior to the issue of these regulations there was no
satisfactory means of knowing when cases of phthisis occurred,
the first intimation usually reaching the Health Department in the
death returns.
The Regulations have now been in force for a year and have
provided a valuable aid to Sanitary Authorities in connection with
the preventive measures carried out in dealing with this insidious
disease. During 1909, 491 notifications have been received referring
to 257 cases.
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