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 1917
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington, Metropolitan Borough of]
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I6
1917]
OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM.
This disease, which is so frequently caused by Gonorrhoeal disease, was responsible for 42 notifications, of which 31 were forwarded by members of the Medical Profession, and 11 by Midwives. As the result of visits by the Health Visitors 28 cases were referred to Hospitals for treatment, while 14 were attended at their homes. Nurses were provided by the Council in 11 cases.
| Tufnell. | Upper Holloway. | Tollington. | Lower Holloway. | Highbury. | Barnsbury. | Islington, South-East. | The Borough. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cases notified by Doctor | 5 | 5 | 4 | .. | 5 | 6 | 6 | 31 |
| ,, „ by Midwife | * | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 11 |
| Cases inquired into | 5 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 42 |
| „ treated in Hospital | 3 | 6 | 3 | .. | 5 | 5 | 6 | 28 |
| „ treated at Home | 2 | .. | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 14 |
| ,, attended by Nurse | 1 | .. | 1 | .. | l | 5 | 3 | 11 |
* One notification was also received from a midwife which had been notified by doctor.
TUBERCULOSIS.
1,055 cases of Tubercular Disease were notified, and represent an attackrate
of 3"55 per 1,000 of the civil population. This number is an increase of
212 on the return of the preceding year, and on the attack-rate of 0-83. It
was also 61 more than in 1915.
Pulmonary Phthisis.—897 notifications were received, of which 568
referred to males and 329 to females, and represented an attack-rate of 3.02
per 1,000. The return was an increase of 225 on that of 1916. There can be
little doubt that the increase in the number of cases and deaths from the disease
have been due to the altered circumstances under which the population is now
living in these serious war times. Indeed, 91 of the increase in the number of
notifications was accounted for by the detection of the disease in men who
were remitted by the military Medical Boards to the Tuberculosis Officers for
examination and report.