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
City of Westminster 1901
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]
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Occupations of Adult Persons who died from Tubercular Disease in 1901, and Place of Death—(contd.).
| Occupation. | Died at home. | In Hospital. | In Infirmary. | Total. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Males—contd. | ||||
| Hall and hotel porters, messengers | 7 | 2 | 9 | |
| Police | 1 | 1 | — | 2 |
| Soldiers | 1 | 8 | — | 9 |
| Army pensioners | — | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Postmen, sorters | 2 | — | _ | 2 |
| Silversmiths | 2 | — | 1 | 3 |
| Electrical engineer | 1 | — | — | 1 |
| Stokers, engineer | 1 | — | 1 | 2 |
| Payiors, sweepers, &c | 1 | — | 2 | 3 |
| Journalist | 1 | — | — | 1 |
| Clerks | 7 | — | 3 | 10 |
| Managers of common lodging houses | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| No occupation | 7 | — | 1 | 8 |
| Females. | ||||
| Dressmakers and sempstresses | 3 | 3 | 1 | 7 |
| Tailoresses | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| Laundresses | — | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Charwomen | — | — | 6 | 6 |
| Servants | 9 | 4 | 6 | 19 |
| Females (occcupation not stated) | 57 | 6 | 7 | 70 |
Deducting deaths of children, 170 persons died in their homes,
47 in hospitals, and 113 in Poor Law Institutions. As a rule adults
afflicted with consumption continue their work so long as their
health and strength permits, especially when they have others
dependent on them, and only seek shelter in infirmaries when they
are no longer able to work, and their funds are exhausted.
It must be kept in mind that had these persons been able to
receive proper attention and treatment in the early stages of the
disease, many of them might have been cured, and been able to
continue their occupations and support their families, instead of
which a number of them have become a burden on the rates.
Sanatoria for the treatment of consumption have been formed all
over the country, but except in a few instances the charges are
beyond the means of the wage-earning class. The Borough
Council of Chelsea have issued a memorandum prepared by
Dr. L. C. Parkes, the Medical Officer of Heath for that Borough,
suggesting that the Metropolitan Asylums Board is the proper body
in London to provide sanatoria for the treatment of consumptive
persons, and the City Council have signified their approval thereof.