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
Hampstead 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hampstead Borough]
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155
This is a much more satisfactory arrangement than the former
one, in which refills were given at a number of different hospitals in
London, for the Tuberculosis Officer can now keep in much closer
touch with his patients than was hitherto possible. There is the
further advantage that patients do not have so far to travel. During
the year 22 patients who were undergoing this form of treatment made
273 attendances.
Mantoux Tests.
All children are given a routine intra-dermal tuberculin test. A
dilution of 1/1000 being used.
| No. of Mantoux tests | 60 | |
| No. positive | 25 | |
| No. giving a very slight reaction | 10 | |
| No. negative | 25 | |
| Below 1 year | 1 | — |
| 1 to 2 | 2 | — |
| 2 to 5 | 8 | 3 |
| 5 to 7 | 27 | 11 |
| 7 to 10 | 12 | 6 |
| 10 to 12 | 6 | 2 |
| 12 to 14 | 2 | 1 |
| 14 to 16 | 2 | 2 |
Of the contacts of T.B.+ cases, seven gave a positive result and
one a negative.
Contacts.
Some difficulty is still being experienced in persuading a sufficient
number of contacts to attend for examination, but it is gratifying to
note that the numbers are gradually increasing. No effort should be
spared to keep in close touch with contacts and to examine them
periodically. Where contacts fail to attend the Dispensary, they are,
when possible, visited at home.
The importance of close co-operation with the School Medical
Officers and the Medical Officers of the Infant Welfare Centres in