London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Paddington 1912

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Paddington, Metropolitan Borough of]

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40 TUBERCULOSIS.
Sex-Age Distribution.
0— 10— 15— 25— 35— 45— 55- 65— 75— Totals.
Males 2 2 — 1 4 3 1 2 1 16
Females 1 — — 1 3 4 — — — 9
The total number of deaths scheduled under pulmonary tuberculosis during the year was
117*, 95 from "chronic pulmonary tuberculosis" and 22 from "acute phthisis." In 1911 there
were 145 deaths from the chronic form and 18 from the acute, or 163 in all. The foregoing
figures show a decrease of over 28 per † in 1912 as compared with 1911. The mortality due to
the two forms during the year was at the rate of 0.82 per 1,000 persons, as compared with 1.14
in 1911 and an average of 106 during 1907-11. Last year's rate was the lowest observed since
1891, and probably the lowest on record. In Hampstead alone (Table 13) was a lower rate
(0.64) recorded. In the Metropolis as a whole the mortality was equal to the average for
1907-11 (1.34). Last year's rates were in excess of the respective averages in Kensington
(1911, 1.06; 1907-11, 0.97) and Willesden (1911, 0.93; 1907-11, 0.86), but below the averages in
the others.
The mortality rates from pulmonary tuberculosis recorded in the individual Wards of the
Borough (see below) were less than the averages, except in Lancaster Gate, West, Ward
(1911, 0.32; 1907-11, 0.32). The fall in the mortality in Queen's Park Ward (1907-11, 1.47;
1911, 0.69—decrease 53 per ) was very striking. Moreover, the mortality recorded in that
Ward last year was fourth in order of magnitude (lower rates being recorded in the three
southern Wards only), whereas it has been for some years one of the highest.
Pulmonary Tuberculosis.
Mortality Rates. Wards.
Queen's Harrow Maida Lancaster Gate, Hyde
Park. Road. Vale. Westbourne. Church. West. East. Park.
1912 0.69 1.04 0.71 0.81 1.24 0.32 0.25 0.63
1911 1.68 1.29 0.86 1.49 1.32 — 0.50 0.85
1907-11 1.47 1.14 0.93 1.29 1.36 0.22 0.33 0.64
Deaths in Institutions.—Some observers lay great stress on the influence of " segregation " on
the prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis, considering that the isolation of the patients in the
last stages of the disease—when such patients are very generally incapable of observing the
necessary precautions—will result in a notable decline in the mortality from the disease. It is
noteworthy that in Paddington there has been during the past four years—the only period during
which the data have been taken out—a notable increase in the proportion of deaths in institutions
to total deaths from pulmonary tuberculosis. (See below!) In 1909 45.9 per of the deaths
occurred in institutions—more than half of them in the Infirmary—which proportion has
steadily increased to 53.8 per last year. The proportion of male deaths in institutions
increased from 47.4 per to 63 0 ; that of females decreased to 38 6.
Pulmonary Tuberculosis.
Proportions (per ) of Deaths in Institutions.
1912. 1911. 1910. 1909.
Males 630 54.4 46.6 47.4
Females 386 42.4 42.6 43.5
Persons 53.8 49.0 44.8 45.9
The appended table shows the classes of institutions in which the deaths occurred.
The proportion of deaths in the Infirmary has steadily increased during the three years from
* The Registrar-General made the total 124.
+ The deaths in 1912 from chronic pulmonary tuberculosis were 34.5 per fewer than in 1911, while those
from the acute form were 22 2 per more. The deaths of males in 1912 (from the two forms) were 18 9 per
fewer than in 1911, those of females 39.8 per