London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Kensington 1924

The annual report on the health of the Borough for the year1924

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The constitution and membership of the Committee at the end of the year were as follow:—
(1) Borough Council—Dr. H. Robinson, J.P., Chairman of the Public Health Committee,
Councillor Miss M. H. Joseph, Councillor Miss M. Drysdale and Miss J. C.
Magee.
(2) London County Council—Dr. A. W. Sikes, Divisional Medical Officer, and
Miss G. M. S. Paddon, District Organiser of the School Care Committees.
(3) Kensington School Care Committees—Miss A. Webster.
(4) Kensington Invalid Children's Aid Association—Miss G. M. Burton and Miss G. A.
Home.
(5) Kensington Charity Organisation Society—Mrs. E. Weber and Miss O. A. Nixon.
(6) Brompton Hospital—Miss L. C. Marx, Lady Almoner.
(7) Kensington Board of Guardians—Councillor Miss A. G. E. Carthevv.
(8) Kensington District Nursing Association—Miss E. D. Gibbes.
(9) Kensal House School—Miss C. D. Clay.
(10) London Insurance Committee—Dr. H. H. Mills.
(11) Local Panel Committee—Dr. A. K. Barrett and Dr. A. S. Herbert,
(12) Kensington War Pensions Committee—One representative.
(13) British Red Cross Society—Mrs. R. H. Burne and Miss F. M. Forbes.
(14) British Red Cross Society (Emergency Help Commiltee)—Councillor Miss C.
Keeling, J.P., and Miss O. A. Nixon.
(15) United Services Fund—Miss M. Pickton.
(16) Ex-officio members—The Medical Officer of Health, Tuberculosis Officer and two
Women Health Officers.
PREVENTIVE WORK IN RELATION TO TUBERCULOSIS.
The treatment of tuberculosis is preventive in so far as it cures the patient and renders him
non-infectious to others, but, in addition to this method of prevention, the Council, with a view to
limiting the spread of disease, undertake various other measures, the most important of which may
be briefly referred to here.
Examination of Contacts.
Special efforts have been made to secure the examination of all "contacts" of notified cases.
Of 801 traced, 373 were examined at the Dispensary by the Tuberculosis Officer and 154 were
examined by their own doctors or were found to have been recently examined by a School Medical
Officer. The remaining 274 either refused examination altogether or ignored repeated requests for
attendance. The endeavour started last year to secure a second examination of "contacts "of
definitely infectious cases after approximately one year's interval has been continued, especially of
young adult "contacts" whose age renders them more vulnerable. The great importance of this
step has been demonstrated by the finding of early disease in a few cases upon second examination.
The number of "contact" re-examinations, not included in the primary list above, was 105.

Home Visiting. The number of home visits paid by the Council's Women Health Officers is shown in the following table:—

Women Health Officers.Total.
No. 1No. 2No. 3No. 4No. 5No. 6No 7
Tuberculosis.
Pulmonary. First Visits22292233424352243
Re-Visits143145253238903303421,541
Non-Pulmonary.
First Visits121371382863
Re-Visits4517516113413858594

The results of home visiting by tactful nurses are noteworthy and the work of these trained
Officers in the Council's service has been an important factor in the progress which has been made
in the domain of tuberculous infection and infant welfare work. Women Health Officers play an
important part in popular instruction by their visits to the homes of the sick and poor, and their
importance as agents for the discovery of early cases of tuberculosis is considerable.