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
Greenwich 1923
The annual report made to the Council of the Metropolitan Borough of Greenwich for the year 1923
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Died within one to two years 16
„ two to three years 12
„ „ three to four years or over 3
Deaths : During the year 133 persons died from Tuberculosis
(all forms) giving a death rate of 1.3 per 1,000 population: 115
deaths were due to the pulmonary form or a rate of 1.12 per 1,000,
the lowest ever recorded in the Borough. Non-pulmonary deaths,
of which there were 18, included 6 cases of meningitis in children,
the eldest of whom was 11 years and the youngest 9 months of age.
A table showing the Ward Distribution, sex and age period at death
will be found elsewhere in the Report.
The Notifications and Deaths from Pulmonary Tuberculosis with the Incidence and Death Rates for the previous five years are recorded in the following table:—
| Year. | Notifications | Incidence per 1,000 | Deaths | Death Rate per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1918 | 267 | 2.6 | 146 | 1.62 |
| 1919 | 300 | 2.9 | 141 | 1.35 |
| 1920 | 264 | 2.5 | 120 | 1.14 |
| 1921 | 263 | 2.6 | 119 | 1.18 |
| 1922 | 218 | 2.1 | 120 | 1.18 |
Occupation: There are no Industries in the Borough which
have any special bearing upon the Incidence of Tuberculosis, but
below is given a condensed table of the occupation of 180 cases of
Pulmonary Tuberculosis notified in 1923 together with the number
who presented a family history of Tuberculosis. In connection
with occupation, however, it must be borne in mind that very fewtrades
in themselves are injurious, it is the conditions under- which
they are carried on that require consideration.
Further, in connection with occupation, it is surely highly
desirable for the protection of the public that power be obtained
to prevent and if necessary compensate persons suffering from
Pulmonary Tuberculosis from dealing with or handling food stuffs.
During the year 3 persons (2 milkmen and 1 baker's roundsman)
were so notified, but beyond the usual advice as regards infection,
etc.,work was still carried on despite the fact that 2 of them had
the Tubercle germs in their sputum.
Notifications are rightly confidential but that nothing "shall be
done to interfere with a man's employment," requires amendment
if the public are to be protected from a possible source of Infection.