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 1932
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]
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shown. (In the other three no further attacks of chorea have occurred, but two years have not elapsed since
tonsillectomy.) In five of these cases chorea has occurred after tonsillectomy, although the rheumatic manifestation
had previously been arthritic. On the other hand five have had no further attacks of chorea since tonsillectomy,
one having had two attacks previous to the operation.
It is realised that the number of cases of chorea is very limited, and that the findings must therefore be
provisional.
As far as the investigation has been able to find, however, there is no evidence to suggest that there
is any appreciable difference between the value of tonsillectomy in arthritic juvenile rheumatism and chorea.
The cases which have been analysed have all attended the Kensington supervisory centre. Cases which have
been lost sight of have been omitted, and it is realised that the tendency at such a clinic may be to lose sight of
severe cases in a rather high proportion. Such cases are often spending long periods of their lives in institutions,
and it is not easy to trace what has happened to them, or a very severe case may never attend the supervisory
centre. This should not affect the investigations undertaken, but it may give an undue optimism as to the progress
of juvenile rheumatism should the figures be examined from that point of view.
Summary.
There is some evidence suggesting that preliminary tonsillectomy, ia those requiring this operation, may
modify the severity of juvenile rheumatism as far as cardiac involvement is concerned in those in whom the
manifestation is choreic, as well as those in whom it is arthritic.
The progress of the disease is the most satisfactory in cases who have healthy tonsils.
In those whose tonsils are unhealthy there is some evidence to suggest that preliminary tonsillectomy is
beneficial as far as the progress of the disease is concerned both in choreic and arthritic cases.
| Year. | Population estimated to middle of each year. | Births. | Total deaths registered in the district. | Transferable deaths. | Net deaths belonging to the district. | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uncorrected number. | Net. | ||||||||||||
| of nonresidents registered in the district. | of resi-dentsnot registered in the district. | Under 1 year of age | At all ages. | ||||||||||
| 1 | Number. | Rate.* | Number. | Rate.* | Number. | Rate per 1,000 net births. | Number. | Rate. * | |||||
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | ||
| 1927 | ‡176,700B 176,500D | 2,270 | 2,657 | 15.0 | 2.550 | 14.4 | 656 | 546 | 176 | 66 | 2,440 | 18.8 | |
| 1928 | ‡178,400B 178,200D | 2,184 | 2,559 | 14.3 | 2,477 | 18.8 | 694 | 543 | 213 | 83 | 2,326 | 13.0 | |
| 1929 | ‡176,000B 175,800D | 2,189 | 2,544 | 14.4 | 2 889 | 16.4 | 738 | 552 | 213 | 84 | 2,708 | 15.4 | |
| 1980 | 176,000 | 2,154 | 2,580 | 14.7 | 2,401 | 13.6 | 749 | 590 | 177 | 69 | 2,242 | 12.7 | |
| 1981 | 174,800 | 2,111 | 2,485 | 14.2 | 2,646 | 15.1 | 716 | 525 | 188 | 76 | 2,455 | 14.0 | |
| 1932 | 183,500 | 2,245 | 2,362 | 12.9 | 2,930 | 15.4 | 937 | 497 | 232 | 98 | 2,490 | 13.6 | |
* Rates calculated per 1,000 of estimated population.
‡ B. Population as estimatsd by the Registrar-General for the calculation of birth rate.
D. ,, „ ,, „ „ „ death rate.
At Census of 1931.
Area of district in acres (exclusive of area Total population at all ages 183,893
covered by water) 2,291 Total families or separate occupiers 47,713