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
St Pancras 1949
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, Metropolitan Borough]
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Our experience during the past year has convinced us that a borough council as public health and
housing authority stands foremost in the fight against tuberculosis.
It is with no sense of complacency that we present this report—it is but an indication of what is needed,
and an inspiration for future work.
SUMMARY OF INVESTIGATION.
| Pulmonary | Non-Pulmonary | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home conditions investigated | 208 | 34 | 242 |
| Males | 121 | 12 | 133 |
| Females | 87 | 22 | 109 |
| Ages : 0-10 years | 19 | 7 | 26 |
| 10-20 | 32 | 9 | 41 |
| 20-30 | 68 | 9 | 77 |
| 30-40 | 43 | 4 | 47 |
| Over 40 years | 46 | 5 | 51 |
| Social condition: | |||
| 1. Poor | 18 | 3 | 21 |
| 2. Moderate working class | 163 | 31 | 194 |
| 3. Superior | 27 | — | 27 |
| Self-contained dwellings | 60 | 11 | 71 |
| Not self-contained dwellings | 148 | 23 | 171 |
| Overcrowded, Housing Act, 1936 | 19 | 1 | 20 |
| Separate room for patient | 80 | 15 | 95 |
| Separate bed for patient | 115 | 21 | 136 |
| Patient in bed | 26 | 1 | 27 |
| Patient in hospital | 68 | 14 | 82 |
| Room used for other purposes | 71 | 7 | 78 |
| Accommodation which includes basement rooms | 36 | 6 | 42 |
| Separate water supply | 165 | 28 | 193 |
| Separate water-closet | 92 | 18 | 110 |
| Shared water-closet | 116 | 16 | 132 |
| Ventilated food cupboard | 69 | 8 | 77 |
| Separate bath | 54 | 7 | 61 |
| Shared bath | 44 | 8 | 52 |
| No bath | 110 | 19 | 129 |
Infantile Mortality.
The outstanding figure of the year is the infantile death rate which is 30.6—the lowest
ever recorded in this Borough. The number of children who died under the age of one year
is 70. I am still not satisfied that this is the lowest figure obtainable. Better housing and
continued improvement in food, purer atmosphere, the prevention of prematurity and the
control of infection and even foetal abnormality are all capable of reducing this number to
considerably less than the present figure, despite the fact that it represents the best so far
attained.
It is interesting to note that the infantile death rate in illegitimate children was less
than that for legitimate children. The figure is small, the total number of illegitimate children
who died being 7, but when one remembers that it is not so long since the death rate of
illegitimate was double that for legitimate children there is reason for at least some satisfaction.
Care of the aged.
This problem has been consistently before your Public Health Department and it is
seldom a week passes but that we have considered the plight of some aged person who needs
our help in some form or another. Towards the end of the year a scheme was developed which
it is hoped to see in operation during 1950. It is anticipated that this will be a combination of