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 1931
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington Borough]
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1931] 46
BACTERIOLOGICAL EXAMINATIONS.
2,811 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 a decrease of 753 on that of the preceding year. It was, however,
230 above the decennial average. Of the total examinations, 413, or 14.7 per
cent, gave positive results.
Diphtheria.—1,943 specimens were examined for Diphtheria, of which 280,
or 14.4 per cent., were found to contain Diphtheria bacilli.
Enteric Fever. —10 specimens of blood were examined, 2 of which gave
positive results.
Tuberculosis.—858 specimens of sputum were examined, 131, or 15.3 per
cent., of which showed that the patients were suffering from pulmonary
tuberculosis. These are in addition to routine examinations at the two Tuberculosis
Dispensaries.
DIPHTHERIA—PATHOGENICITY TESTS. 1931.
| No. Submitted for Examination. | Negative Result. (Bacilli) | Positive Result. (Bacilli) | Non-Virulent. | Virulent. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | 16 | 3* | 1 | 1 |
| DIPHTHERIA—PATHOGENICITY TESTS. 1931. | ||||
| No. Submitted for Examination. | Negative Result. (Bacilli) | Positive Result. (Bacilli) | Non-Virulent. | Virulent. |
| 19 | 16 | 3* | 1 | 1 |
* 1 not tested for Pathogenicity.
| Periods. | Diphtheria. | Enteric Fever. | Pulmonary Tubercolosis | Totals. | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Positive Results | Negative Results. | Total Examined. | Positive Results. | Negative Results. | Total Examined | Positive Results. | Negative Results. | Total Examined. | ||
| 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 |
| 1930 | 492 | 2,274 | 2,766 | 1 | 18 | 19 | 127 | 652 | 779 | 3,564 |
| Average 10 years | 287 | 1,496 | 1,783 | 2 | 17 | 19 | 135 | 644 | 779 | 2,581 |
| 1931 | 280 | 1,663 | 1,943 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 131 | 727 | 858 | 2,811 |