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

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Paddington 1921

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

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19
tuberculosis.
The specimens of sputum examined at the Dispensaries during the year numbered 197,
of which 50 (25 per cent.) were found to contain the tubercle bacillus.
The number of visits of the patients. homes made by the Dispensaries. Staffs were slightly
fewer last year than in 1920, the total visits in 1921 were 4,116 (844 by the Tuberculosis
Officers and 3,272 by the Nurses), as compared with 4,337 in 1920 (925 by the Officers, and
3,412 by the Nurses.
Residential Treatment.—Since May, 1921, all residential treatment has been provided by
the London County Council. In consequence no distinction is now made in the records of
the Department between insured and uninsured persons.
At the close of 1920, 16 patients were under treatment. Last year 143 applications for
treatment were received, of which 112 were completed by the patients entering tht
institutions to which they had been allocated. The appended tabular statement shows the
Tuberculosis: Residential Institutions.
1921.
Applications received 143 Applications abandoned 6 Applicants not tuberculous 2
Adult Males 77 „ refused 9 Disease arrested 1
„ Females 62 Treatment refused 10 Patient died 1
Children 4 In suspense 1
Applications completed 113
Treatment given:
Hospital 84
Sanatorium 28
Dispensary 1
Under Treatment Jan. 1st 1921 16
Admitted during 1921: Died during year 11
Hospital 84 Discharged 60
Sanatorium 28 112 Remaining Dec. 31st 1921 57
128 128
various reasons for non-completion of the remaining applications. Of the 84 patients
admitted to hospitals, 39 were subsequently transferred to sanatoria. Among the 71 patients
whose treatment was completed before the end of the year there were 11 deaths (in the
institutions where the treatment was being given), equivalent to a case fatality of 15.6 per cent.
Mortality.—The deaths from all forms of tuberculosis during the past year numbered
125, 70 of males and 55 of females. The appended statement shows the reduction in the

Tuberculosis: Mortality: Borough Persons: All ages.

AveragesRecorded
1909-131914-18191919201921
Pulmonary Tuberculosis14516510512094
Non-Pulmonary4232282631
Tuberculosis of Meninges1618101312
Other Forms2614181319

numbers recorded during the last three years in comparison with the averages for the two
preceding quinquennia. Tabic XII.a, Appendix, gives the sex-age distribution of the deaths
during the past year. Last year.s total was 23 per cent. less than the average for 1909-13.
Tables XIII. and XIV. show the changes in the incidence of mortality as regards sex and
age and in the Wards of the Borough.
Deaths of the Tuberculous from other Causes.—Last year only two deaths among notified
persons came to the knowledge of the Department, as compared with 16 in each of the years
1919 and 1920. Among the "suspects" one death was known to have occurred.
(See Table XII.A.)
Occupational Mortality.—The usual information of the occupations (as recorded at the
registration of death) of persons dying of tuberculosis during the year will be found in
Table XV.
Duration of the Disease.—Below is given a statement of the duration of disease as
obtained from the records of 66 fatal cases of pulmonary tuberculosis. The proportion of