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
Kensington 1922
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]
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The following Table shows the number of notifications of pulmonary and non-pulmonary tuberculosis received since 1913, together with the number of deaths and death-rates in each year.
| The Year. | Pulmonary Tuberculosis. | Other Forms of Tuberculosis. | Tuberculosis (all forms). | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of Notifications. | No. of Deaths. | Deaths per 100,000 persons living. | No. of Notifications. | No. of Deaths. | Deaths per 100,000 persons living. | No. of Deaths. | Deaths per 100,000 persons living. | |
| 1913 | 189 | 111 | 51 | 30 | 240 | 140 | ||
| 1914 | 501 | 189 | 110 | 78 | 45 | 267 | 156 | |
| 1915 | 402 | 183 | 107 | 77 | 45 | 152 | ||
| 1916 | 300 | 129 | 54 | 35 | 240 | 157 | ||
| 1917 | 445 | 178 | 117 | 98 | 43 | 244 | ||
| 1918 | 336 | 203 | 131 | 96 | 47 | 30 | 250 | |
| 1919 | 489 | 169 | 107 | 93 | 38 | 24 | 207 | 131 |
| 1920 | 293 | 135 | 114 | 44 | 27 | 179 | 109 | |
| 1921 | 153 | 87 | 32 | 185 | 105 | |||
| 1922 | 252 | 139 | 78 | 87 | 30 | 17 | 169 | 95 |
For the first time in the history of the Borough, the deaths from all forms of tuberculosis fell
to under one per 1,000 persons living.
The rapid improvement in the tuberculosis rates during the last ten years has been most
encouraging, and it is to be hoped that it will stimulate both social and official workers to press
forward with renewed enthusiasm in the very successful fight against the disease which has caused
such a waste of life in the past as to be justly called "The White Scourge."
Deaths from Tuberculosis in 1922 Allocated to District of Usual Residence of Patients.
| Pulmonary Tuberculosis. | Other Forms of Tuberculosis | |
|---|---|---|
| The Borough | 139 | 30 |
| North Kensington | 95 | 20 |
| South Kensington | 41 | 10 |
| St. Charles | 25 | |
| Golborne | 26 | 7 |
| Norland | 36 | 4 |
| Pembridge | 3 | |
| Holland | ||
| Earl's Court | 13 | 4 |
| Queen's Gate | 4 | — |
| Redcliffe | 3 | |
| Brompton | 4 | 1 |
| Ward Unknown | 3 | — |
The places where deaths from tuberculosis occurred are set forth in the following list:—
| Pulmonary Tuberculosis. | Other Forms of Tuberculosis. | |
|---|---|---|
| St. Mary Abbot's Hospital (Kensington Infirmary) | 49 | |
| Patient's Home | 52 | 14 |
| Brompton Hospital | 3 | — |
| St. Luke's Home | 4 | — |
| Outlying Hospitals | 7 | |
| Other places outside the Borough | 5 | 3 |
DISPENSARY TREATMENT OF TUBERCULOSIS.
North Dispensary Area.
In accordance with their decision of June 28th, 1921, the Council took over from the North
Kensington Voluntary Dispensary Committee all duties in regard to the Dispensary treatment
of tuberculosis for persons living in the North Dispensary area on January 1st, 1922, and
consequently this report covers the first year of work at the North Dispensary under the Council's
authority. The features of the scheme were fully set out in my Annual Report for the year 1921
and do not, therefore, call for repetition here, especially as no material alteration has been found
desirable.
The change over of the Dispensary from a Voluntary Committee to the Royal Borough Council
was effected with a minimum of disturbance, owing largely to the support and help I received from
Dr. Picard, the Tuberculosis Officer, who was transferred from employment under the Voluntary
Committee to the Council's staff on January 1st, 1922.