Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Annual report on the health, sanitary condition, &c., of the Borough for the year1918
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Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
Treatment and Results.
As the Dispensaries have now been opened for six years, the
time has come when some useful information should be obtainable
as to the results obtained, and I am now engaged in summarising
these results as far as possible. In endeavouring to arrive at
accurate results, it is necessary to spend a great deal of time in
going into the details of all cases who have ever attended for
examination, and in trying to find out the present conditions of
those older cases who have not attended for a long time. Many
have left the Borough since their first call at one of the Dispensaries,
but I think that a useful summary of results can be made from
the many who still live here.
Till this investigation is complete, it would be premature to
say anything further as to the results obtained, beyond giving,
under very broad headings, the disposal at the end of the year of
the 1918 new cases found to be tubercular (see Table XXIX.).
These patients have not been under treatment long enough to say
what benefit they have derived.
Vaccine and Tuberculin treatment have been continued in a
limited number of cases, and some benefit obtained.
41 adults and 54 children have obtained sanatorium treatment
under the London County Council scheme, and a number,
not definitely Tuberculous, have enjoyed a change of air at some
convalescent home.
Bacteriological Examination of Sputum.
399 examinations of sputum were made at the Lister Institute:
43 from Clapham, 39 from Putney, 109 from Streatham, 30 from
Tooting, and 178 from Wandsworth. In 89 of the cases it was
reported that the bacillus had been found.
Other Infective Diseases.
17 deaths were caused by other Infective diseases, two in
Clapham, two in Putney, four in Streatham, two in Tooting, and
seven in Wandsworth.