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 1964
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lewisham Borough]
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start was made in this first year when about 236 children were immunised.
In 1964 the number immunised was 2,260. By 1946 68% of children
under 5 years of age in the Borough had been immunised against
diphtheria. 1946 saw the passing of the National Health Service Act
which transferred the personal health services to the London County
Council. Undoubtedly diphtheria immunisation has played a major
part in reducing the incidence of the disease. It cannot be too strongly
emphasised that parents should continue to ensure that their children
are immunised at the appropriate time.
Through the years under review the battle against tuberculosis
has been continuous, and a major part of the work of the department
was concerned with reducing the incidence of this disease.
In 1903 the Medical Officer of Health reported that "comparing
Phthisis with other infectious diseases it was again responsible for a
greater loss of life than smallpox, measles, scarlet fever, diphtheria and
enteric fever combined."
The total deaths from the diseases mentioned were:—
Table 49
| Lewisham | County of London | |
|---|---|---|
| Smallpox | — | 13 |
| Measles | 36 | 2,046 |
| Scarlet fever | 11 | 362 |
| Diphtheria | 20 | 740 |
| Enteric fever | 9 | 368 |
| Total | 76 | 3,528 |
| Phthisis | 104 | 7,124" |
"In addition to Phthisis 62 deaths were registered as due to various
forms of tubercular disease." In spite of these figures the Medical
Officer of Health was able to report that the position in Lewisham, in
comparison with other Boroughs, was most satisfactory, because Lewisham's
death rate 0.78 per 1000 was the lowest in London except for
Hampstead (0.74 per thousand). It must be remembered, however, that
tuberculosis was not a notifiable disease at this time. No specific measures
were taken by the department, in which there were eight Public Health
Inspectors to combat the disease in the improvement of sanitary
conditions.
As a result of a communication from the London County Council
in 1906 the Public Health Committee introduced a system of voluntary
notification of pulmonary tuberculosis and medical practitioners were
invited to notify such cases to the Medical Officer of Health for a small
fee. The medical practitioners were informed that ". . . . . On receipt of
notification a competent inspector will call at the house, make a few
necessary inquiries, and examine the sanitary condition of the house.