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

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City of Westminster 1923

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]

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40
X-Bay Examinations.—Plates were taken by this method in five
instances at the Council's expense. A number of other cases were
examined in this way at various hospitals.
Bacteriological Diagnosis.—Sputum was examined in 578 instances,
300 being specimens sent from the Dispensary and 218 from private
practitioners. The cost was £79 10s. 5d.
Sale of Milk by persons suffering from Tuberculosis.—There is no
legal power by which a person who is in an infective tubercular condition
can be prevented from selling milk, either in a shop or on a round, whereby
milk may readily be infected. The Medical Officer of Health is prohibited
from informing a milk dealer that a person in his employ is in such a
condition. The only course open is to persuade the employee to change
his occupation. The question has been under the consideration of the
various Metropolitan Borough Councils and the Minister of Health has
been asked to issue an Order empowering Local Authorities responsible
for administering the Tuberculosis Regulations to prevent infectious
tuberculous persons from engaging in any occupation connected with
the milk trade that would be likely to result in the milk becoming
infected.

Westminster—Deaths from Tuberculosis per 100,000 civilian population.

Years.Pulmonary.Non-pulmonary.Total.
Deaths.Rates.Deaths.Rates.Deaths.Rates.
1916 annual1641243727201151
1917 „1941472922223169
1918 „1861483124217173
1919 „1341052116155121
1920 „139971812157109
1921 „12084.91510.613595.5
1922 „144103.32115165118.3
1923 „10373.31611.311984.7
1881-90 average20889297
1891-9518480264
1896-1900 „17470244
1901-05 „3021697040372209
1906-10 „2181325834276166
1911-15 „1951283725232153
1916-20 „1631242719190143

For London the rates were 97.1 and 18.7 respectively, giving a total
rate of deaths from Tuberculosis of 115'8.
The death-rates for males and females in Westminster for 1920,
1921, 1922, and 1923 calculated were per 100,000 population:—