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
Poplar 1917
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Poplar, Metropolitan Borough]
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65
In the course of the year 1917 it will be seen no fewer than 24
.patients or a percentage on the total admissions of 4 40 were, after
admission at the fever hospitals, found not to be suffering from the
diseases (notifiable) mentioned in the medical certificates upon which
they were removed to hospital. The percentage on the total (admission)
scarlet fever cases was 104, diphtheria cases 5'28 and enteric fever
-.:use3 31*81.
The numbers of cases wrongly notified and removed to Infectious Diseases Hospitals during the past 10 years have been as follows:—
| Poplar cases. | Percentage of mistakes to total admission. | Metropolitan cases. | Percentage of mistakes to total admission | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1908 | 89 | 6.28 | 2,594 | 9.27 |
| 1909 | 54 | 6.28 | 2,322 | 10.2 |
| 1910 | 50 | 8.50 | 1,723 | 11.2 |
| 191] | 57 | 9.62 | 2,237 | 10.5 |
| 1912 | 29 | 5.63 | 1,899 | 81 |
| 1913 | 31 | 3.02 | 2,501 | 9.01 |
| 1914 | 45 | 4.84 | 2,517 | 7.5 |
| 1915 | 32 | 4.35 | — | — |
| 1916 | 19 | 3.16 | — | — |
| 1917 | 24 | 4.40 | — | — |
The number admitted into the Metropolitan Asylums Board's
Hospitals during the year 1917 was 20,246.
Bacteriological Examinations.
Facilities are still afforded to practitioners to have swabbings from
throats of doubtful cases of diphtheria, and specimens of blood from
doubtful cases of typhoid fever and also sputum from suspected tuberculous
patients bacteriologically examined. (See pages 85, 82 and 23).
Positive results of bacteriological examinations are communicated
to the medical officers of the Metropolitan Asylums Board's Fever
Hospitals at the time when the patients are removed or by letter afterwards
if the result be not to hand at time of removal, or if the removal
has not been effected through the Public Health Department.