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 1968
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lewisham Borough]
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MEASLES
The number of cases was the lowest since 1962, but no significance can be attached
to this fact, such a drop being expected as the numbers in the last "off" year were
relatively high in this illness which normally makes a biennial appearance.
DYSENTERY
Another encouraging year, the figures being nearly half those of the previous year
which was the lowest recorded. As this illness can so easily become prevalent again
constant observation of the rules of hygiene is essential.
SCARLET FEVER
There were 105cases compared with 174in the previous year. This cannot be considered
other than normal incidence, the figures having fluctuated between 71 and 197 during
the past decade.
WHOOPING COUGH
The year produced 146 cases compared with 130 in the previous year. No special
comment is called for as the figures were not abnormally high when related to the
occurrences over the past decade.
Table 36
| Age periods | Respiratory | Non-Respiratory | Totals | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M | F | M | F | M | F | |
| 0- | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1- | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 |
| 2- | 4 | — | — | — | 4 | — |
| 5- | 1 | 2 | — | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 10- | — | 4 | — | — | — | 4 |
| 15- | 1 | 4 | — | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| 20- | 4 | 5 | — | 1 | 4 | 6 |
| 25- | 10 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 11 |
| 35- | 13 | 9 | — | 1 | 13 | 10 |
| 45- | 11 | 4 | — | — | 11 | 4 |
| 55- | 15 | 5 | — | — | 15 | 5 |
| 65- | 12 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 3 |
| 75+ | 3 | 3 | — | — | 3 | 3 |
| TOTALS | 74 | 47 | 3 | 8 | 77 | 55 |
CHEST CLINIC, LEWISHAM
I am indebted to Dr. M. Farquharson for the following report concerning the Chest
Clinic at Blagdon Road of which she is the consultant physician:
This year has seen a slight increase in the number of tuberculosis notifications.
This emphasizes the need for continued vigilance in the prevention and control of
tuberculosis. The new cases seen at the Lewisham Chest Clinic have risen from 44 in
1967 to 57 in 1968. This figure comprises 33 men, 21 women and 3 children The
total tuberculosis register has been reduced by 177 to 1,370. B.C.G. was given to
178 infants and children. The health visitors carried out 4,167 home visits.
The total clinic attendances (excluding after care) were 19,823; new patients
attending for clinical examination numbered 1,994.
This year we have seen more new cases of cancer of the lung than ever before,
the increase being 25% on the figures for 1967, and the number of cases more than
56