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 1932
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Battersea Borough]
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Table I. Pulmonary Tuberculosis.
| Years. | 0-5 | 5-10 | 10-15 | 15-25 | 25-35 | 35-45 | 45-55 | 55-65 | over 65 | Total. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group T.B. minus | — | — | 1 | 15 | 13 | 6 | 4 | 2 | — | 41 | |
| Group T.B. plus{ | Group I | — | — | — | 14 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 1 | — | 29 |
| Group II | — | — | — | 20 | 16 | 8 | 15 | 5 | — | 64 | |
| Group III | — | — | — | 4 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 17 | |
| Total | — | — | 1 | 53 | 39 | 24 | 24 | 9 | 1 | 151 | |
Table II. Non-Pulmonary Tuberculosis.
| Years. | 0-5 | 5-10 | 10-15 | 15-25 | 25-35 | 35-45 | 45-55 | 55-65 | over 65 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bones and Joints | 1 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 2 | — | — | — | 20 |
| Abdominal | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 4 |
| Peripheral Glands | 1 | 2 | 5 | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 10 |
| Skin and Other Organs | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | 1 | — | 3 | — | 8 |
| Total | 2 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 42 |
Table III. shows the mode of onset of Pulmonary Tuberculosis
as elicited from the 151 patients who attended the Dispensary
during the year. In a comparatively large percentage the first
symptom of the onset of Pulmonary Tuberculosis, as noted by the
patient, was an attack of haemoptysis, a fact which illustrates the
great importance of the fullest investigation being carried out in
patients who complain of bringing up blood from the mouth even
in the smallest quantities. Unfortunately in many of those
patients the significance of this symptom was not realised at the
time either, strange as it may appear, through the patient failing
to seek medical advice or through the condition being overlooked
at the time of examination. Frequently a fairly brisk attack of
haemoptysis occurs in a comparatively early stage of the disease
and from the point of view of treatment, therefore, it is essential
that the fullest investigation should be made in order to determine
its cause. Even in these days it is much too common for a patient
to volunteer the statement that he thought or was advised that
the blood came from a "burst blood vessel in the back of the
throat." No patient should be lulled into a false sense of security
by any such statement. Pleurisy, either with or without effusion,
is also a fairly common mode of onset in Pulmonary Tuberculosis.