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
Islington 1923
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington, Metropolitan Borough of]
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31
[1923
BACTERIOLOGICAL EXAMINATIONS.
2,568 examinations were made for the medical profession of the sputum, of swabs from
the throat and of the blood of patients suspected to be suffering from Phthisis, Diphtheria
and Enteric Fever, respectively.
This number is an increase of 704 on that of the preceding year. It is also 1,287 above
the decennial average. Of the total examinations, 463 or 18 per cent. gave positive results.
Diphtheria.—1,677 specimens were examined for Diphtheria, of which 306, or 18 2
per cent., were found to contain Diphtheria bacilli.
Enteric Fever.—20 specimens of blood were examined, 5 of which gave positive
results.
Phthisis.—871 specimens of sputum were examined, 152, or 17 4 per cent., of which
showed that the patients were suffering from this disease.
| No. Submitted for Examination. | Negative Result. (Bacilli). | Positive Result. (Bacilli). | Non-Virulent. | Virulent. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 49 | 40 | 9 | 5 | 4 |
| Periods. | Diphtheria. | Enteric Fever. | phthisis. | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Positive Results. | Negative Results. | Total Examined | Positive Results. | Negative Results. | Total Examined | Positive Results. | Negative Results. | Total Examined | Totals. | |
| 1913 | 163 | 418 | 581 | 24 | 28 | 52 | 183 | 546 | 729 | 1,362 |
| 1914 | 178 | 518 | 696 | 15 | 44 | 59 | 243 | 567 | 810 | 1,565 |
| 1915 | 123 | 360 | 483 | 16 | 19 | 35 | 198 | 568 | 766 | 1,284 |
| 1916 | 127 | 277 | 404 | 10 | 12 | 22 | 135 | 390 | 525 | 951 |
| 1917 | 100 | 216 | 316 | 12 | 8 | 20 | 165 | 420 | 585 | 921 |
| 1918 | 74 | 171 | 245 | 3 | 21 | 24 | 111 | 358 | 469 | 738 |
| 1919 | 116 | 352 | 468 | 5 | 15 | 20 | 92 | 348 | 440 | 928 |
| 1920 | 261 | 677 | 938 | 3 | 20 | 23 | 83 | 375 | 458 | 1,419 |
| 1921 | 23.8 | 969 | 1207 | 3 | 19 | 22 | 127 | 421 | 548 | 1,777 |
| 1922 | 291 | 953 | 1,244 | — | 9 | 9 | 139 | 472 | 611 | 1,864 |
| Average 10 years | 167 | 491 | 658 | 9 | 20 | 29 | 148 | 446 | 594 | 1,281 |
| 1923 | 306 | 1,371 | 1,677 | 5 | 13 | 20 | 152 | 719 | 871 | 2,568 |
VACCINATION.
Of the 6,599 births registered in 1922, the returns of vaccination show that only 2,902
infants were successfully vaccinated, while 17 were found to be insusceptible. There were
also 338 who died unvaccinated, and 2,347 statutory declarations of conscientious objection
to vaccination were obtained by the parents or guardians ; 35 vaccinations were postponed