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
Camberwell 1936
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Camberwell.
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99
Influenza.
The type of influenza prevailing during the year 1936 was
mild. There were 26 deaths.
The following table furnishes an analysis of the sites of the body affected in these cases:—
| Site of Disease. | 15- | 25- | 35- | 45- | 55- | 65- | 75- | All Agea. | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M. | F. | M. | F. | M. | F. | M. | F. | M. | F. | M. | F. | M. | F. | M. | F. | |
| Buccal Cavity and Pharynx | – | – | – | – | – | – | 2 | – | 3 | – | 6 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 3 |
| Digestive Organs | – | – | 2 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 18 | 9 | 36 | 26 | 51 | 35 | 14 | 21 | 124 | 98 |
| Respiratory Organs | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | 13 | 1 | 11 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 31 | 12 |
| Female Genital Organs | – | – | – | 1 | – | 3 | – | 12 | – | 14 | – | 8 | – | 5 | – | 43 |
| Breast | – | – | – | 1 | – | 3 | – | 3 | – | 9 | – | 10 | – | 7 | – | 33 |
| Male Genitourinary Organs | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | 1 | – | 9 | – | 7 | – | 7 | – | 25 | – |
| Skin | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | 2 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Other Organs | 1 | – | – | 1 | 1 | – | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 15 | 18 |
| Totals | 1 | – | 3 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 35 | 27 | 64 | 54 | 76 | 68 | 28 | 41 | 211 | 207 |
Diabetes.
The Council, with the approval of the Minister of Health,
continued to supply Insulin to medical practitioners for the treatment
of the poorer inhabitants of the Borough suffering from
diabetes. Appropriate issues were made during the year for the
treatment of 7 patients. Quarterly reports obtained from medical
practitioners treating these patients were submitted to the Ministry
of Health at their request.
Cancer.
There were 418 deaths from malignant disease in the Borough
during the year, representing a percentage of 14.4 per cent, of the
total deaths. These deaths were distributed as follows: Males 211,
females 207. The comparative figures for 1935 were total deaths 413,
males 201, female 212.
Cancer is chiefly a disease of middle age and onwards. The
higher the average age of the population the greater is the liability
of cancer developing. When this factor is taken into consideration
as well as the increased ability to recognise the disease there is no
justification for undue alarm.
There exist in London to-day greater facilities than ever for
the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The Council also endeavours
by a leaflet distribution to educate the public as to the early symptoms
and signs of the disease in various parts of the body and to
impress upon them the necessity of losing no time in seeking medical
aid as soon as any physical condition manifests itself which suggests
that "something is not quite right" Much of the non-success of
present-day treatment is due to the advanced stage of the disease
at the time a patient applies for treatment.
It cannot be emphasised too strongly, therefore, that delay in
seeking medical advice often results in unnecessary suffering and
frequently ends in disaster.
G2
The following is a summary of the work carried out by the disinfecting staff during 1936:—
| Number of houses visited following infectious disease | 1,538 |
| Number of visits to these premises | 2,510 |
| Number of houses visited following other diseases | 278 |
| Number of visits to these premises | 431 |
| Number of houses visited for miscellaneous purposes | 599 |
| Number of visits to these premises | 1,743 |
| Number of rooms disinfected. Infectious disease | 2,227 |
| Number of houses visited. Verminous | 1,153 |
| Number of rooms disinfected. Verminous | 1,542 |
| Number of articles disinfected (steam disinfected) | 62,044 |
| Number of articles disinfected (formalin) | 2,036 |
| Number of books disinfected | 1,251 |
| Number of articles destroyed | 1,270 |
| Weight of furniture, etc., destroyed | 3 tons 16 cwt. |
| Weight of unsound foods destroyed (see Food Inspector's report) | 5 tons 9 cwts. 2 qrs. 23½ lbs. |
| Weight of dead animals destroyed | 3¾ cwt. |