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
Willesden 1919
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Willesden]
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Measles.—Table No . 30.
Shewing the number of cases coming under the notice of the Health Department each year since 1907, and the number of deaths occurring among these cases ; the number of deaths occurring among unknown cases, and the probable number of these cases, assuming the fatality rate to have been the same in each class:—
| Year. | Total No. of Cases known before death. | Cases unknown prior to death. | Percentage of all probable Cases coming to knowledge. | Total. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cases. | Deaths. | Fatality Rate per cent. | Deaths. | Estimated No. of Cases. | |||
| 1907 | 1,442 | 25 | 1.75 | 20 | 1,153 | 55 | 2,595 |
| 1908 | 1,678 | 26 | 1.55 | 29 | 1,871 | 47 | 3,549 |
| 1909 | 1,445 | 17 | 1.17 | 24 | 2,040 | 41 | 3,485 |
| 1910 | 1,757 | 13 | 0.74 | 1.7 | 2,297 | 43 | 4,054 |
| 1911 | 1,845 | 26 | 1.40 | 25 | 1,774 | 51 | 3,619 |
| 1912 | 1,665 | 17 | 1.02 | 18 | 1,763 | 48 | 3,428 |
| 1913 | 1,656 | 21 | 1.26 | 48 | 3,785 | 30 | 5,441 |
| 1914 | 539 | 0 | 0.00 | 8 | *664 | *45 | 1,203 |
| 1915 | 1,947 | 20 | 1.03 | 54 | 5,257 | 27 | 7,204 |
| 1916 | 871 | 7 | 0.80 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 871 |
| 1917 | 2,979 | 36 | 1.21 | 12 | 993 | 75 | 3,972 |
| 1918 | 1,257 | 10 | 0.79 | 10 | 1,257 | *50 | 2,514 |
| 1919 | 1,375 | 20 | 1.45 | 3 | 206 | 87 | 1,581 |
| Totals | 20,456 | 238 | 1.16 | 268 | 23,060 | 47 | 43,516 |
*These figures are based on the average for the years 1907-1914.
Of the 23 measles deaths 13 occurred in the Willesden Infirmary, 3 in the Municipal Hospital,
1 in a hospital outside Willesden and 6 at home.
The Ministry would also be glad to have information as to the extent to which the requirements
as to notification of tuberculosis are observed by medical practitioners, and of any action taken to enforce
the regulations and secure prompt notification.
Tuberculosis Notifications, etc.—Table No. 31.
Notifications received—Pulmonary 682
Other forms 83
New cases to which notifications refer—Pulmonary 303
Other forms 72
1,010 of the total of 3,687 cases of Tuberculosis notified in Willesden since 1909, when notification
began, were living in the area at the end of the year 1919.
It has not been necessary to take any action to enforce the regulations and secure prompt
notification.
Tuberculosis.—As regards the treatment of Tuberculosis the Medical Officer of Health should
set out in the report (a) Details of the Council's scheme, (b) the extent to which the scheme has already
been developed, (c) the adequacy or otherwise of the provision made, and (d) the lines on which the scheme
needs to be extended or modified as the result of experience. Other points which might be specified are :
(e) The extent to which the co-operation of the medical profession has been obtained, (/) the readiness or
otherwise of patients to avail themselves of the facilities provided for diagnosis and treatment, and (g)
the arrangements at the dispensary for providing for home visitation, search for contacts, after-care
work, etc.
The treatment of Tuberculosis is carried out by the Middlesex County Council.
All cases are visited in the homes and kept under observation by the Council's Health Visitors,
with the view of preventing the spread of infection. 1,010 cases were under observation at the end of
the year.
Where desirable from the point of view of prevention of spread of infection, beds and bedding
are lent by the Council. .Sputum bottles and paper handkerchiefs are supplied free to patients.
It is to be regretted that the control of Tuberculosis is not entirely under the one local Health Authority
whose hospital, clinics, home nursing service, provision of milk and meals scheme would all be conveniently
available for patients, and there would be no overlapping of duties and duplication in home
visitation or other provision.