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 1931
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Poplar, Metropolitan Borough]
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Table III shows the non-pulmonary cases analysed in a similar way.
The very low death rate in these cases, together with a tendency to earlier
arrest and cure are at once apparent, while the infrequency with which
these cases contract pulmonary tuberculosis is revealed by the fact that
during the last seven years only three of them have been transferred to
Table II.
Additional Statistics not dealt with in the Preceding Tables:—
| Patients sent away for Institutional Treatment | 238 |
| Patients in receipt of extra nourishment during the year | 106 |
| Patients in receipt of Extra Nourishment, 31st December | 41 |
| Reports on Children to Divisional School Medical Officer | 131 |
| Children recommended for admission to Open-Air Schools | 5 |
| Letters to General Practitioners concerning patients | 385 |
| Reports to General Practitioners on official forms | 239 |
| Progress reports received from General Practitioners | 168 |
| Clinical reports to London County Council | 709 |
| Shelters on loan during the year | 4 |
| Shelters on loan on 31st December | 2 |
| Bed and bedding on loan during the year | Cases 34 |
| Bed and bedding on loan on 31st December | 26 |
During the year 6 new cases and 6 old cases have attended Brompton,
Victoria Park and St. Thomas's Hospitals for 127 Artificial Pneumothorax
refills, while 3 new cases and 4 old cases of Lupus have attended
the London Hospital for 126 applications of Finsen light and 647 applications
of General light. Also, 4 old cases of non-pulmonary tuberculosis
(Glands, etc.), have attended the London Hospital for 63 applications
of General light.
Patients receiving Artificial Pneumothorax treatment (as well as
patients needing Finsen Light treatment) are treated on the authority
of the Tuberculosis Officer, the cost of treatment being charged to the
Borough Council. It is probable that Artificial Pneumothorax treatment
will become increasingly popular. It is the most valuable method of
treatment in suitable cases, and there is a growing tendency to institute
it earlier and more frequently.
The small number of children recommended for Open Air Schools is
explained by the fact that such recommendations are limited to children
suffering from Pulmonary or Glandular Tuberculosis between the ages of