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
Islington 1930
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington Borough]
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51
[1930
BACTERIOLOGICAL EXAMINATIONS.
3,564 examinations were made for the medical profession of the sputum, of
swabs from the throat, and of the blood of patients suspected to be suffering from
Tuberculosis, Diphtheria and Enteric Fever, respectively.
The number is an increase of 435 on that of the preceding year. It was also
1,198 above the decennial average. Of the total examinations, 620, or 17.4 per
cent. gave positive results.
Diphtheria.—2,766 specimens were examined for Diphtheria, of which
492, or 17.8 per cent., were found to contain Diphtheria bacilli.
Enteric Fever.—19 specimens of blood were examined, 1 of which gave a
positive result.
Tuberculosis.—779 specimens of sputum were examined, 127, or 16.3 per
cent., of which showed that the patients were suffering from pulmonary
tuberculosis.
DIPHTHERIA—PATHOGENICITY TESTS. 1930.
| No. Submitted for Examination. | Negative Result. (Bacilli) | Positive Result. (Bacilli) | Non-Virulent. | Virulent. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 43 | 7* | 5 | 1 |
* 1 not tested for Pathogenicity.
Showing the result of the Bacteriological Examinations made for the Diagnosis of Diphtheria, Enteric Fever and Pulmonary Tuberculosis, 1920-29, and in 1930.
| Periods. | Diphtheria. | Enteric Fever. | Pulmonary Tuberculosis | Totals. | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Positive Results | Negative Results. | Total Ex-amimed. | Positive Results. | Negative Results. | Total Examined. | Positive Results. | Negative Results. | Total Examined. | ||
| 1920 | 261 | 677 | 938 | 3 | 20 | 23 | 83 | 375 | 458 | 1,419 |
| 1921 | 238 | 969 | 1,207 | 3 | 19 | 22 | 127 | 421 | 548 | 1,777 |
| 1922 | 291 | 953 | 1,244 | — | 9 | 9 | 139 | 472 | 611 | 1,864 |
| 1923 | 306 | 1,371 | 1,677 | 5 | 15 | 20 | 152 | 719 | 871 | 2,568 |
| 1924 | 180 | 1,333 | 1,513 | — | 17 | 17 | 127 | 650 | 777 | 2,307 |
| 1925 | 232 | 1,618 | 1,850 | 2 | 12 | 14 | 160 | 762 | 922 | 2,786 |
| 1926 | 183 | 1,501 | 1,634 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 148 | 691 | 839 | 2,535 |
| 1927 | 260 | 1,573 | 1,833 | 3 | 21 | 24 | 111 | 661 | 772 | 2,629 |
| 1928 | 276 | 1,478 | 1,754 | 4 | 32 | 36 | 137 | 723 | 860 | 2,650 |
| 1929 | 412 | 1,888 | 2,300 | 2 | 15 | 17 | 119 | 693 | 812 | 3,129 |
| Average 10 years | 264 | 1,336 | 1,600 | 2 | 17 | 19 | 130 | 617 | 747 | 2,366 |
| 1930 | 492 | 2,274 | 2,766 | 1 | 18 | 19 | 127 | 652 | 779 | 3,564 |