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
Lewisham 1951
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lewisham Borough]
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63
TB cases visited in 1951—conditions found
Table 51
| (a) Primary case in house | (b) Second case in house Non transfer | (c) Second case in house Inward transfer | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social condition : | ||||||
| Poor | 11 | 311 | 1 | 32 | 2 | 9 |
| Moderate | 247 | 30 | 6 | |||
| Superior | 53 | 1 | 1 | |||
| No information available | 15 | — | — | |||
| Not visited | 33 | 33 | 11 | |||
| Total | 359 | 65 | 20 | |||
| Of those visited : | % | % | ||||
| Isolated in | ||||||
| (a) Separate room | ||||||
| (fa) Separate bed | ||||||
| (c) In bed | ||||||
| Satisfactory window area | ||||||
| Satisfactory lighting and ventilation | ||||||
| Satisfactory food cupboard | ||||||
| Separate water supply | ||||||
| Separate water closet | ||||||
| Separate bath | ||||||
| No bath | ||||||
| Defects requiring attention | ||||||
Mass radiography unit
The southeast London mass radiography unit visited the borough
during May, June and July when it was stationed at two centres.
3,894 men and 5,458 women were examined. Of the 3,894 men 185
were asked to return so that larger X-rays could be taken, and of these
5 did not reattend. Of the 180 remaining 35 were found to have no
abnormality and 73 were thought to have old trouble not requiring
further treatment; 42 were referred to their doctors as probably new
tuberculous cases and a further 14 for some other reason probably not
tuberculous. Eight were known to be old cases of tuberculosis and
seven had heart abnormalities. One case was still being investigated at
the time of the report. Of the 3,894 men, therefore, 42 or 1.1 percent
were thought to be possible new cases of tuberculosis. (On investigation
it is usually found that only about half these are finally diagnosed as
tuberculosis).
Of the 5,458 women 194 were asked to return for larger X-rays,
but 2 did not attend. Of the 192 remaining 40 showed no abnormality
and 76 showed old trouble not requiring treatment. 45 were referred to
their doctor as probably new tuberculous cases and 5 for other reasons
non-tubercular. Eleven were known to be old cases of tuberculosis
and 15 had heart abnormalities. Of the 5,458 women, therefore, 45 or
0.8 percent were thought to be possible new cases of tuberculosis,
though here again probably only about half of them will be finally
diagnosed as tuberculous.