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
Chelsea 1910
Annual report for 1910 of the Medical Officer of Health
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23
Notifications of Phthsis
During the year 1910, 4 cases of phthisis were voluntarily notified
by private medical practitioners, 16 cases were notified from the Brompton
Hospital for Consumption, 1 from St. George's Hospital, and 7 cases of
tuberculosis in children by the London County Council (Medical Officer
for Education).
The following Table shows the number of notifications received under the Public Health (Tuberculosis) Regulations, 1908:—
| Form A.—First notifications by M.O., C.W.I | 96 |
| „ Re-notifications „ „ | 75 |
| „ Notifications by M.O.'s, outside Infirmaries | 12 |
| Form B.-—First notifications by District M.O.'s | 39 |
| „ Re-notifications „ „ | 5 |
| Form C.—Notifications by Master, C.W. | 75 |
| „ Notifications by Masters, outside Workhouses | 12 |
| 314 |
There has been a very considerable falling-off in numbers of
notifications under the Poor Law Regulations in 1910, as compared with
1909, when the first notifications by the M.O., C.W.I., amounted to 226,
and the notifications by District M.O.'s amounted to 73.
The total number of new cases notified in 1910 was 118, comprising
78 males and 40 females. Of the new Poor Law patients in 1910, 9 only
were notified once, the majority of the remainder being notified twice.
A few were notified more than twice. In 13 cases the patients changed
their addresses during the year, and in 3 cases the address was changed
twice.
The total number of cases visited for the first time during the year
was 96; 70 revisits and 60 miscellaneous visits were made—the total of
visits in respect of phthisis cases during the year being 236. No visits
are paid in respect of the men who go in and out of the Chelsea Infirmary
from the Common Lodging Houses and Casual Wards. The number of
Common Lodging House cases was 18. So far as known, no cases of
notified phthisis were admitted to Sanatoria or Convalescent Homes
during the year, but hospital letters were given to 5 cases, and pocket
spittoons to 17. Disinfectants and soap were given, where required;
and the leaflet of advice is given in all cases.
The 7 cases reported by the Medical Officer for Education, L.C.C.,
were children attending school suspected to be suffering from tubercle of
the lung. In the course of visiting these cases, 5 others were discovered.
All these cases were referred to the Chelsea Branch of the Invalid
Children's Aid Association, who sent them away for Sanatorium or
Convalescent Home treatment. Two of the children are now reported to
be quite cured, and the others are so much improved as to be able to