London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Battersea 1935
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Battersea Borough]
This page requires JavaScript
The following table shews the localisation of the disease in the case of the 265 deaths recorded in 1935.
| Localisation. | No. of deaths. | Total. | Percentage of Total. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male | Female | |||
| Buccal cavity | 11 | - | 11 | 4.15 |
| Stomach, liver, peritoneum, intestines and rectum | 71 | 54 | 125 | 47.17 |
| Respiratory system | 34 | 2 | 36 | 13.58 |
| Female genital organs | - | 30 | 30 | 11.32 |
| Breast | 1 | 26 | 27 | 10.19 |
| Skin | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1.13 |
| Genito-urinary organs (male) | 16 | - | 16 | 6.04 |
| Other and unspecified organs | 5 | 12 | 17 | 6.42 |
| Total | 140 | 125 | 265 | 100.00 |
Diabetes.
For some years past, with the sanction of the Ministry of Health,
the Council has borne the cost of insulin required by certain necessitous
patients who were receiving treatment for diabetes at London
hospitals. During 1935 insulin was supplied to one such case.
Venereal Disease.
The Health Committee in April approved a scheme of the
British Social Hygiene Council for holding a series of lectures and
film displays in the Borough on the subject of venereal disease,
and gave instructions for assistance to be rendered to the Society
in making the lectures known.
The work of the Council's Special Clinic in connection with the
Borough Maternity Hospital is summarised on pages 33 and 34.
Bacteriological Examinations.
The bacteriological examination of clinical material (with the
exception of specimens of sputum, which are dealt with at the
Tuberculosis Dispensary, vide page 66) is carried out by the
Clinical Research Association, of Watergate House, Strand.
During 1935 the number of bacteriological examinations of
specimens sent in by medical practitioners practising in Battersea
was 1,968 (exclusive of the Tuberculosis specimens).
The following table gives particulars of the bacteriological examinations carried out during the year:—
| Suspected disease. | Positive Results. | Negative Results. | Total. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diphtheria | 181 | 1,769 | 1,950 |
| Enteric fever | 4 | 14 | 18 |
| Total | 185 | 1,783 | 1,968 |
The cost of these examinations is borne by the Council, and in
1935 amounted to £256 17s. 6d., as compared with £263 6s. 10d.
in 1934.