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 1938
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]
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32
Bacteriological Laboratory.
The examination of specimens for bacteriological investigation is
carried out at the laboratory of Westminster Hospital. The facilities
provided by the Council apply only to patients who are residents in the
City. A charge is made for work done on behalf of individuals whose
place of occupation is in Westminster, and who may be attended by
Westminster practitioners. The materials for swabbing, etc., are supplied
by the Council.
The following is the summary of bacteriological work performed:—
Swabbings from throats in suspected diphtheria, and
blood, etc., for investigation of enteric and
dysentery 791
Sputa for investigation of tuberculosis 341
Expenditure on the first was £134 6s. 7d., and on the second
£47 12s. 5d., including cost of outfits, postage and telegrams.
TUBERCULOSIS.
In 1938, 188 new cases of pulmonary tuberculosis came to the
knowledge of the department, including 7 cases who had moved into
the City and 9 non-notified deaths.
Non-pulmonary forms of tuberculosis gave 41 cases—4 of these being
non-notified deaths and 6 transfers from other districts.
Table XXXIII.—Tuberculosis—New Cases and Deaths.
| Age- Periods. | New Cases. | Deaths. | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pulmonary. | Non-pulmonary. | Pulmonary. | Non-pulmonary. | |||||
| M. | F. | M. | F. | M. | F. | M. | F. | |
| Under 1 year | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 to 5 years | 2 | - | 2 | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| 5 „ 10 „ | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 | - | - | - | 1 |
| 10 „ 15 „ | - | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 15 „ 20 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 20 „ 25 | 11 | 21 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 5 | - | 1 |
| 25 ,, 35 ,, | 21 | 21 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 1 | - |
| 3o ,, 4o ,, | 21 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 6 | - | - |
| 45 ,, 55 ,, | 24 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 1 | - | - |
| 55 „ 65 „ | 19 | 3 | - | 1 | 8 | - | - | 1 |
| 65 and upwards | 3 | 3 | - | 1 | - | 3 | - | 1 |
| Totals | 111 | 77 | 20 | 21 | 43 | 19 | 3 | 5 |
In this table all primary notifications are included, and also other
new cases of tuberculosis coming to the knowledge of the Medical Officer
of Health during the year.