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
Battersea 1938
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Battersea Borough]
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D.—Occupations in the 170 cases of Pulmonary Tuberculosis.
| Occupation. | No. of patients. | Occupation. | No. of patients. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accountants | 2 | Labourers, various | 11 |
| Butchers | 2 | Laundry worker | 1 |
| Billiards marker | 1 | Lift man | 1 |
| Carpenters | 3 | Needle workers | 3 |
| Cinema attendants | 2 | No occupation | 4 |
| Clerks, various | 25 | Painters and decorators | 4 |
| Cobblers | 2 | Porters | 5 |
| Domestic workers | 12 | Postman | 1 |
| Draughtsman | 1 | Printers | 3 |
| Drivers | 6 | School children | 6 |
| Engineers, various | 9 | Shop assistants | 14 |
| Factory workers, various | 15 | Street traders | 3 |
| Housewives | 23 | Waiters | 5 |
| Infants | 2 | Warehousemen | 2 |
| Insurance agents | 2 |
E.—Family History of Tuberculosis in Pulmonary and Non-Pulmonary Cases.
| Near relative. | Remote relative. | No family history. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pulmonary | 59 | 6 | 105 |
| Non-Pulmonary | 7 | 2 | 14 |
| Totals | 66 | 8 | 119 |
Of the 193 cases, therefore, a history of Tuberculosis in a near
relative was elicited in 34.2 per cent. and in a remote relative in 4.1
per cent. In all 38.3 per cent. gave a family history of Tuberculosis.
Contacts.
All contacts are asked to attend the Dispensary for examination.
Home contacts of infectious cases are encouraged to attend the
Dispensary every six months.
Institutional Treatment.
The London County Council are the authority for the provision
of institutional treatment for Tuberculosis in London, and such
treatment is supplied free of charge.
The number of patients who received institutional treatment
under the scheme of the London County Council was 157, and the
average length of stay was 92 days. The average period of waiting
before admission was 9 days. Of these patients, 87 were discharged
during the year, leaving 70 under treatment at the end of
the year. Definite improvement as a result of institutional treatment
was shown in 53 cases. Thirty-four patients discharged themselves
while undergoing institutional treatment.