London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Chelsea 1914
Annual report for 1914 of the Medical Officer of Health
This page requires JavaScript
28
Pulmonary Tuberculosis.
During the year 1914, 157 new cases of pulmonary tuberculosis were
notified, as compared with 160 in 1913. Eighty-six of the cases were males
and 71 females. The age-incidence of the cases is given in the preceding
Table.
Seventy specimens of sputum were sent during the year, by medical
practitioners, to the Lister Institute for free bacterioscopic diagnosis. Of
these 26, or 37 per cent., showed the presence of tubercle bacilli, and 44,
or 63 per cent., did not. The corresponding figures in 1913 were 32 per
cent. positive, and 68 per cent. negative, of the total of 41 specimens.
Of the notified cases of pulmonary tuberculosis on the register, 52 died during the course of the year.
| Cases notified less than 10 days before death | 5 |
| „ 10 days to 1 month before death | 3 |
| ,, 1 to 8 months before death | 15 |
| „ 3 to 6 months before death | 8 |
| „ 6 to 9 months before death | 4 |
| „ 9 to 12 months before death | 3 |
| „ 1 to 2 years before death | 10 |
| „ 2 to 3 years before death | 3 |
| „ 3 to 4 years before death | 1 |
| 52 |
The number of cases notified as re-admissions to the Chelsea Infirmary
in 1914 were males, 116; females, 24. A considerable number of chronic
cases amongst males are constantly seeking admission into the Infirmary
for rest and treatment. Many of them take their discharges when they
feel better, to be again re-admitted after varying periods at their own homes.
Of 111 new cases of pulmonary tuberculosis (mostly adults), entered
in the register for the year 1914, of which fairly full notes have been obtained
as the result of visits to, and inquiries made at the homes of the patients
by the Lady Sanitary Inspector, in 39 there was a history of tuberculosis
amongst near relatives. Infection from relatives was probable in 6 cases.
In 52 cases the tubercular infection appears to have been preceded at varying
intervals by an attack of bronchitis (12); pleurisy (6); influenza(18);
or neglected nasal and bronchial catarrh (20). In 2 cases in children an
attack of measles was regarded as the exciting cause. In 7 cases the illness
was attributed to continued cold and exposure. Badly ventilated or dusty
workrooms and offices are associated with 10 cases; alcoholic excess with
4 cases; poverty and deficient food with 6 cases; living in damp basements
with 2 cases; nursing a consumptive patient with 3 cases; working with
consumptive fellow-workmen with 3 cases; and one case is associated with
previous injury to chest, tubercular glands in neck, and a previous attack
of enteric fever.
Of these 111 cases, 46 were found on the date of the first visit of the
Lady Sanitary Inspector to be sleeping alone (with a bed to him or herself),
and 65 were sleeping in bed with some other person. In about two-thirds