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
Harrow 1949
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Harrow]
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The following table is a summary of the changes which have taken place during the year :—
| Pulmonary | Non.pulmonary | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male | Female | Male | Female | |
| No. on register, January 1st, 1949 | 844 | 698 | 116 | 131 |
| No. of new cases added ... | 172 | 120 | 11 | 9 |
| No. of cases other than on Form A | 67 | 50 | 3 | 7 |
| No. of cases restored to the register | 2 | 2 | — | — |
| No. of cases removed | 117 | 105 | 13 | 12 |
| No. on register, December 31st, 1949 ... | 968 | 765 | 117 | 135 |
The following table is a summary of the cases removed from the register, with the reasons for removal:—
| Reasons for Removal | Pulmonary | Non.pulmonary | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male | Female | Male | Female | |
| Left district | 56 | 62 | 8 | 3 |
| Died | 52 | 33 | 2 | 5 |
| Recovered | 7 | 9 | 2 | 4 |
| Diagnosis not confirmed or withdrawn | 2 | 1 | 1 | — |
| Total | 117 | 105 | 13 | 12 |
Deaths.
Fifty.five persons (34 male and 21 female) died from pulmonary
tuberculosis during the year and 2 (both male), from non.pulmonary
tuberculosis. This infection, therefore, accounted for only 3.0 per cent.
of the total deaths in this district. The corresponding figures for 1948
were 76 deaths from pulmonary and 15 deaths from non.pulmonary
tuberculosis, the disease accounting for 4.9 per cent. of the total deaths.
Preventive Measures.
Although the local sanitary authority is responsible for the sanitation
of the premises in which a tuberculous patient is living, in this area the
home visiting is undertaken by the tuberculosis sister attached to the staff
of the local tuberculosis dispensary or chest clinic. Routine reports are
received about the home circumstances, and the sanitary inspector
visits homes where housing is unsatisfactory either because of crowding
or because of the structural condition of the premises.
Amongst the chief of the preventive measures is early diagnosis.
To facilitate this, arrangements are available for the bacteriological
examination of sputum from suspected patients. Another aid is mass
radiography which as yet can be carried out only on selected parts of the
population.