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
Bexley 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Bexley]
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During the year the Council agreed to rehouse any
family in which there was a case of infectious tuberculosis
where the patient could not have a bedroom to him
or herself.
Disinfectants are provided for notified cases, and arrangements
are made for the disinfection of premises,
bedding, etc., following removal of patients to Sanatoria,
and also after fatal cases.
The following statement shows the number of cases on the Notification Register for the district at the beginning and at the end of the year.
| Pulmonary. | Non-pulmonary. | Total. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M. | F. | M. | F. | ||
| Number on Register at the commencement of the year | 155 | 124 | 35 | 44 | 358 |
| Number on Register at the end of the vear | 183 | 152 | 41 | 46 | 422 |
The increase in the number of cases on the register
and of the notifications is not a real rise of incidence in
the area, but due to the growth of the population, and
the number of inward transfer of cases to the area. Also,
it must be realised that the population in this area is
young, and tuberculosis is more a disease of the young
—including both children, young men and young women.
No action was required to be taken under the Public
Health (Prevention of Tuberculosis) Regulations, 1925,
relating to persons suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis
employed in the milk trade or under Section 62 of the
Public Health Act, 1925, relating to the compulsory removal
to a hospital of persons suffering from tuberculosis.
Cancer.
Disinfection is carried out if required after death
from cancer.
Facilities for diagnosis and treatment of cancer are
available at the local Cottage Hospital and at the Voluntary
General and Special Hospitals in the Metropolitan
Area.
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