London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
City of Westminster 1913
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]
This page requires JavaScript
32
Tuberculosis.
In 1913, all forms of Tuberculosis became compulsorily notifiable,
superseding entirely the voluntary system which had been
in existence in Westminster since June, 1903. There was a considerable
rush of notifications in the first quarter of the year, especially
of old standing cases of disease of the spine, hip-joint and bones, but the
numbers rapidly decreased in succeeding quarters. The total number
of pulmonary cases was lower than in 1912.
The total number of certificates received was 1,203, including
189 notices of admission and 168 notices of discharge from infirmary or
sanatorium; 440 notifications related to cases already notified.
The number of new cases of pulmonary tuberculosis was 443, and
included 87 homeless persons or inmates of common lodging houses.
The number of new cases of other forms of the disease was 152, of
whom 8 were casuals.
The following table shows the number of new cases in each of the last 5 years :—
| Pulmonary. | Other Forms. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General. | Casuals. | Total. | ||
| 1909 | 270 | 136 | 406 | 5 |
| 1910 | 165 | 110 | 275 | 17 |
| 1911 | 256 | 100 | 356 | 38 |
| 1912 | 368 | 125 | 473 | 27 |
| 1913 | 356 | 87 | 443 | 152 |
The notifications of new cases calculated as rates per 1,000 of population were as follows:—
| Pulmonary. | Other Forms. | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1912. | 1913. | 1913. | |
| London | 7.39 | 5.01 | 1 .55 |
| England (excluding London) ... | 2.44 | 2.32 | 1.11 |
| Westminster | 3.10 | 2.80 | 0.96 |
The figures for England and London are taken from the Local
Government Board Report.
Deaths from pulmonary disease of persons whose illness had not
been notified during life were, 67 in 1911, 39 in 1912, and 32 in 1913,
making the total number of cases in these years 423, 512 and 475. In
1913 there were 25 deaths from other forms in unnotified persons,
making the total number of cases 177.
Details as to age, sex, ward and institutional treatment are shown in
the following tables:—