London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Kensington 1902

Annual report on the health, sanitary condition, etc., etc., of the Royal Borough of Kensington for the year1902

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57
The Inspectors' report was as follows :—
"Since January 1st, 1902, when the voluntary notification of phthisis came into force in
the Borough, we have enquired into all such cases notified up to December 31st, 1902, numbering
247,* of which 79 proved fatal. We have also made inquiries with regard to deaths
from phthisis, in cases not notified, numbering 147; making a total of 394 cases investigated.
" Fifty-seven of the notified cases were from Common Lodging-houses, and with respect
to these little or no information was obtainable. They occurred in 21 houses, the largest
number of cases to a house being seven, and six, in one house each, and four in each of other
five houses.
"A phthisical history was obtained in 104 cases (males 64, female 40) from the patients;
including 6 male cases, in which the wife's family was phthisical, and 4 female cases, in which
the husband's family was phthisical.
" In 22 cases (male 15, female 7) with no phthisical history, the disease appears to have
developed after cold from exposure at work, and in 15 cases (males 11, females 4) as a result of
intemperance and exposure; in 13 cases (males 8, females 5) symptoms of phthisis were alleged
to have supervened after influenza, bronchitis, pleurisy or pneumonia; in 3 cases (males) after
lead-poisoning; in 3 cases after confinement; in one case (male) after measles, and in one
case (male) after rheumatic fever.
" The duration of illness in the cases investigated was very variable. In 363 cases it was
less than two years.
" In the majority of cases the rooms occupied by the sick persons were found to be fairly
clean and ventilated. In other instances the rooms were dirty and close, and it is a significant
fact that in nearly every such case the illness had a fatal issue.
" In each case instruction was given to the patient, or the relatives, with regard to the
necessity of wet cleansing of the room, and the treatment of sputa. The Council's leaflet on
The Cause and Prevention of Consumption was distributed, as also a card containing clear and
simple rules for the prevention of the spread of infection, such as could be carried out without
interfering with the patient's daily avocations.
" After a death, whether of a notified case, or one known solely through the weekly returns
of mortality, the house was visited and disinfection offered. In the majority of cases
this was gladly accepted. In 24 cases disinfection had already been carried out, or was about
to be done, under the superintendence of the medical practitioner in attendance.
" We desire to acknowledge the courtesy with which our enquiries were received, and the
general willingness of all persons concerned to do their best to carry out the instructions given.
" The appended Tables summarize the most salient results of the enquiry, in the form
prescribed for our use."

Distribution of Notified Cases of Phthisis, and of Fatal Cases not Notified (January 1st to December 31st, 1902).

Notified Cases.Deaths.Fatal, not notified cases.Total No. of cases.
Number of cases in—
The Borough247†79147394
Sub-Districts—
Kensington Town23875101339
Brompton944655
Parliamentary Divisions—
North Kensington2186991309
South Kensington29105685
Wards—
South K. North K.St. Charles2531641
Golborne47223178
Norland1173036153
Pembridge2914877
Holland124820
Earl's Court531116
Queen's Gate -41216
Redcliffe431519
Brompton41014

* Duplicate Notifications, or secondary notifications within six months, were not counted ; but in secondary Notifications
the patients or premises were visited, and disinfection was carried out for a second time, where necessary.
† Duplicate Notifications or second Notifications within 6 months not counted