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9
Tuberculosis
Fifty years ago the first Order was made by means of which all cases of
Pulmonary Tuberculosis had to be notified to the Medical Officer of Health.
For some three years previously this disease was notifiable but only in the
case of Poor Law patients and later in 1912 the Public Health (Tuberculosis)
Regulations, 1912, consolidated, amended and simplified the machinery
for stamping out all forms of tuberculosis, both pulmonary and other
forms.
It was in this year, 1912, that the Deptford Municipal Tuberculosis
Dispensary was opened at 78, Amersham Vale and the dispensary work
continued there until 1928 when it was transferred, together with other
health services to the Harton Street Health Centre.
It is interesting to note that in the first year of notification of all cases
of Pulmonary Tuberculosis 436 cases were notified and 148 deaths. This
total of deaths represented the highest individual total of deaths from
defined diseases in that year. In 1962 there were 81 new notifications but
only 5 deaths.
From about 1948 the whole building at Harton Street was devoted
entirely to tuberculosis and other chest conditions and is now known as
the Deptford Chest Clinic under Dr. J. P. V. Rigby whose report for the
year appears hereunder.