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

View report page

Paddington 1921

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

This page requires JavaScript

17
other notifiable diseasbs
The total number of deaths ascribed to "lobar pneumonia" and "pneumonia" during the
year was 63, 25 (16 males, 9 females) to the former, and 38 (23 males, 15 females) to the latter.
In 1919 the deaths entered under these two headings numbered 96, and in 1920, 54, the annual
averages for the two preceding quinquennia being—1909-13, 87; 1914-18, 95. Of the 63 deaths
recorded during the past year, 41 represented cases not notified during life. In 10 of the
notified cases, death preceded notification. It can only be said that the notification of
"pneumonia" has been so far very incomplete.
Home Nursing.—In 7 instances the services of the District Nurses were sought for notified
cases, 20"6 per cent. of the cases treated at home (34.) It is, however, satisfactory to be able
to report that there were no fatal cases under the Nurses. care.
Other Notifiable Diseases.
Malaria.—Seven cases were reported during the past year, all in men between the ages
of 23 and 35 years. In every instance the infection had been contracted abroad. 5 of the
cases dating from service on the Salonica front during 1915 and 1916. Last year.s total
shows a marksd reduction from that recorded during 1919-20 (89 cases).
Dysentery.—Two cases were notified last year, one in a girl aged 5 years and the other
in a woman aged 33. The latter case arrived from India with the disease, but in the child.s
case no history could be obtained throwing any light on the source of infection. In both
cases the Flexner bacillus was found in the faeces.
Anthrax.—A case of this disease was reported in the autumn, the patient being a
hairdresser (male aged 39 years). The history indicated that the anthrax pustule formed
within 3 days of taking into use a new shaving brush in the bristles of which the bacillus
anthracis was afterwards found to be present. Brushes of the same make were examined
on behalf of the Medical Officer of Health of the City but that bacillus was not found in them.
The country of origin of the brush was not ascertained.
Tuberculosis.
Notification.—The records for the years 1912-21 are given in Table V., and more
detailed information for the years 1917-21 in Table X.
All Forms of Tuberculosis.— The new cases added to the Register during the past year
numbered 335, including 3 cases "transferred" on removal into the Borough. During 1914-18
the additions averaged 522 per annum, last year.s additions (335) representing a fall of
35.9 per cent. below that average.
Pulmonary Tuberculosis.—The new cases numbered 244, and were 35.5 per cent. below
the annual average (378) for 1914-18.
Other Forms.—The new cases (91) were 36.8 per cent. below the average (144) for 1914-18
"Suspects."—In addition to the 335 certified "definite" cases, 93 other cases ("suspects")
were reported to the Department by the Tuberculosis Officers as suspected to be suffering
from the disease, but of these cases separate records are not kept to show the site of the
disease.
The total number of cases which have been entered in the Register since 1903 is 9,072 of
which 1,873 definite and 63 suspect cases were "survivors" at the end of last year.
(See Table XI.).
Sex Distribution.—In the appended statement the numbers of cases reported during the
past year—distinguishing the sexes—are compared with the averages for 1914-18, and the

Tuberculosis: New Cases.

DefiniteSuspect Ail Forms
PulmonaryOther Forms
MalesFemalesMalesFemalesMalesFemales
1914-1820617277676089
191915313155526862
192013514256505562
192113411042495043

records for 1919 and 1920. Decreases are to be noted under all the headings.