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
Greenwich 1951
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Greenwich Borough]
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103
Tuberculosis.—During the year 149 cases of Tuberculosis were
notified in the Borough, 4 more than in 1950. Of this number,
127 were of the pulmonary type, ordinarily known as consumption,
and 22 were non-pulmonary, i.e. tuberculosis of parts of the body
other than the lungs.
The following table gives the distribution:—
| District | Pulmonary | Non-Pulmonary | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Greenwich | 52 | 10 | 62 |
| West Greenwich | 15 | 3 | 18 |
| St. Nicholas, Deptford | 5 | — | 5 |
| Charlton and Kidbrooke | 55 | 9 | 64 |
| Totals | 127 | 22 | 149 |
Disinfection was offered and carried out in 68 cases, including
144 rooms and 897 articles of bedding and clothing, etc.
The number of notified Tuberculosis cases remaining on the Register at 31st December, 1951, was as follows:—
| PULMONARY | NON-PULMONARY | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men | Women | Children | Total | Men | Women | Children | Total | ||
| M | F | M | F | ||||||
| 444 | 343 | 51 | 47 | 885 | 17 | 35 | 17 | 11 | 80 |
For further clarification I append herewith copy of Form
T.137 for the year under review as forwarded to the Ministry of
Health.
Mass Radiography.—In London, Mass Radiography was
originally carried out under the direction of the London County
Council, but since July 1948 the responsibility for this service has
rested with the South East Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board.
Introduced primarily for the early detection of Tuberculosis,
the Mass Radiography service is responsible for revealing many
other chest malformations and disabilities which would doubtless
have remained undetected perhaps for years.
As a direct consequence of the diagnosis of these ailments, in
this way it may be possible to commence treatment at a very early
stage, thereby enabling a much more favourable prognosis to be
entertained.
The South East London Mass Radiography Unit carried out a
public survey in Greenwich during April and May. Information
was supplied, appointments made, local firms informed and every
assistance was given by the Health Department in order to make
the unit's visit a success and I am indebted to Dr. J. M. Morgan,
the Director, for the following analysis of the results:—