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 1934
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]
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74
During the year 1933-34, 48 sessions have been held at the Princess Louise Hospital, and the average
attendance has risen from 28 in 1932-33 to 30.9 in 1933-34 ; the total number of attendances during this year
has risen from 1,344 to 1,467.
Average attendance per session of Kensington patients 23.9
,, ,, ,, other „ 7. 0
30.9
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Cases which were admitted to Princess Louise Hospital sometimes had tonsillectomy performed during
their stay in hospital when the acute stage was quiescent. Cases were admitted to other hospitals either because
they were over the age for admission to Princess Louise Hospital or because they did not live in Kensington.
The admission to convalescent homes is arranged through the lady almoner at Princess Louise Hospital or through
the Invalid Children's Aid Association.
Clinical Report.
An investigation into the progress and possible significance of certain basal murmurs.
It has been found, in examining children at the centre with reference to the presence or absence of organic
heart disease, that the significance of basal cardiac murmurs is often in doubt. The insignificant basal murmur
is mentioned in text books. It is described as a soft systolic murmur, variable in position, often in the second
left intercostal space, and it is not associated with any sign of organic heart disease. Such a murmur may be
described as physiological, the child being apparently quite healthy, or as functional or haemic, it being
associated with anaemia or other debilitating condition. A clear description of the aetiology of such murmurs is
not given, nor does there seem to be anv agreement as to the existence of anv definite aetiological factor.
Such insignificant murmurs are often found. In examining healthy school children it was found that in the prone
position, after exercise, a murmur could be heard in 60 per cent, of the children ; but a difficulty often occurs when
basal murmurs are first heard in deciding into which category, functional or organic, such murmurs should be
placed. For this reason an investigation was undertaken during the year.
The following is an analysis of 51 cases in which there is a basal systolic murmur. In all these cases the
murmurs are so similar in character, although they may vary slightly in intensity, that it is not possible to
differentiate them by auscultation only.