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 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]
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gradual fall which has been occurring steadily for many years will not continue. The age group
which has shown the least decline in latter years is the female age group 25-35 years. This is an
observation which is general throughout the country and appears to be due to the change in the
habits of women of this age. More are in employment during the day than used to be the case, and
the still fashionable slim figure, and consequent reduction in diet of the individual in order to attain
this, is no doubt a factor in the failure of this age to show the fall which has occurred in the other
age groups.
Deaths from Tuberculosis in 1937 Allocated to District of Usual Residence of Patients.
| Respiratory tuberculosis. | Non-respiratory tuberculosis. | |
|---|---|---|
| The Borough | 114 | 16 |
| North Kensington | 73 | 9 |
| South Kensington | 37 | 7 |
| No fixed abode | 4 | - |
| Wards. St. Charles | 29 | 3 |
| Golborne | 15 | 3 |
| Norland | 17 | 2 |
| Pembridge | 12 | 1 |
| Holland | 7 | 2 |
| Earl's Court | 10 | 2 |
| Queen's Gate | 4 | 2 |
| Redcliffe | 12 | 1 |
| Brompton | 4 | — |
The places where the deaths from tuberculosis occurred are set forth in the following list:—
| Respiratory tuberculosis. | Non-respiratory tuberculosis. | |
|---|---|---|
| Patient's home | 29 | 3 |
| St. Mary Abbots Hospital | 6 | 2 |
| St. Charles Hospital | 37 | — |
| Brompton Hospital | 4 | — |
| Other institutions | 38 | 11 |
| Seventy-six per cent. of the deaths occurred whilst the patients were undergoing residential treatment. | ||
The Prevention and Treatment of Tuberculosis.
In the prevention and treatment of tuberculosis there is close co-operation between the London
county council and the borough council, the latter providing the dispensary service and the former
the residential treatment. In 1921 the borough council took over the duties of the North Kensington
Voluntary Dispensary Committee, which had been in operation since 1909. In 1923 the dispensary
service for South Kensington, carried out by Brompton Hospital, was discontinued, as it was found
difficult to co-ordinate the preventive work carried out by the borough council from two dispensaries .
The services of the tuberculosis officer are available at the dispensary or at home consultations,
and the council's women tuberculosis health officers visit all notified cases at frequent intervals.
Some notified cases do not require or desire public medical treatment, and in these the medical
practitioner is communicated with and requested to supply information regarding the patient, his
environment, and what form of treatment he is receiving. This request is acceded to in practically
all cases, and a report is received every year on the patient's progress.
All statutory notified cases do not come under the tuberculosis scheme for treatment and
supervision, and only those cases receiving public medical treatment and supervision are entered on
the dispensary register, but it is gratifying to note that this register contains 85 per cent. of all cases
notified.