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
London County Council 1933
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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As a result of the examinations, 403 officers were deemed to be permanently unfit to carry out their ordinary duties in the service of the Council on the following grounds:—
| Males. | Females. | Total. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardio-vascular disease | 66 | 30 | 96 | |
| Diseases of the bones and joints | 17 | 32 | 49 | |
| Disability following trauma | 5 | 3 | 8 | |
| Pulmonary tuberculosis | 23 | 13 | 36 | |
| Diseases of the lungs other than pulmonary tuberculosis | 23 | 15 | 38 | |
| Malignant disease | 7 | 4 | 11 | |
| Gastro-intestinal disorders | 8 | 2 | 10 | |
| Renal disease | 2 | 3 | 5 | |
| Functional nervous disorders | 30 | 25 | 55 | |
| Organic nervous disorders | 18 | 8 | 26 | |
| Senile decay | 6 | 9 | 15 | |
| Post-operative disability | 7 | 7 | 14 | |
| Sight and hearing defects | 15 | 7 | 22 | |
| Endocrine disorders | 5 | 3 | 8 | |
| *Miscellaneous | 2 | 8 | 10 | |
| Total | 234 | 169 | 403 | |
* Including cases of varicose veins (4), hernia (2), general debility (2), pyrexia (1), mental
subnormality (1).
Sixty-nine of the 1,450 applicants for appointment to the permanent service failed to pass the medical examination for the following reasons:—
| Males. | Females. | Total. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Defective hearing and ear diseases | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Defective vision and eye diseases | 11 | 9 | 20 |
| Poor physique and deformities | 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Cardio-vascular disease | 4 | 8 | 12 |
| Varicose veins | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Rheumatism | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Kidney disease, albuminuria, &c. | 2 | — | 2 |
| Tuberculosis and lung diseases | 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Functional nervous disorders | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| *Miscellaneous | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Total | 25 | 44 | 69 |
* Including one case each of hernia, epilepsy, enlarged thyroid, sinusitis, and mental defect.
Work done in the bacteriological laboratory at County Hall.
The investigations carried out during the year 1932-33 are summarised below
under the various headings. The work undertaken in this laboratory is chiefly
associated with the control of infectious diseases in the Council's day and residential
schools, and in addition a certain amount of bacteriological investigation is carried
out on material such as water, milk, etc., submitted to the Council's chemist for
analysis.
Diphtheria Carrier investigation (see also Annual Report Vol. III, Pt. II, page 47).—
5,273 specimens were examined, of which 327 yielded positive morphological K.L.B.;
of 653 cultures submitted to animal test, 300 were virulent, 31 avirulent and 322
negative.
Ringworm and Favus.—744 specimens of hair of the head were examined.
Ringworm fungus was identified in 231 (171 small spore, 60 large spore). Favus
was identified in one specimen.
Hemolytic streptococcus carriers.—(a) puerperal fever contacts—22 specimens
were examined (2 positive, 20 negative).
(b) presumed contacts of scarlet fever—4 specimens were examined (all
negative).
Sputum examinations.—63 specimens were examined, tubercle bacilli being found
in 25.