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

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London County Council 1923

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]

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51
He further suggests that the height of the mortality rates in the early agegroups
in an industry will be an indication as to the proportion of weaklings and
susceptibles in the industry, and the height of the mortality rates in the later agegroups
will provide a measure of the degree to which the occupation, the conditions
under which the work is done, or the habits of the employees are responsible for
the disease.
He has accordingly classified the occupations into four classes according to the
height of the mortality rates in two age-groups, 15-25 and 25-65, compared with
the mortality rates in these two age-groups of the total occupied, taken as the
average.
Class 1.—Those occupations in which the death rates from pulmonary tuberculosis
are above the average in both age-groups. This class contains makers of
bricks, pottery and glass, workers in skins and leather goods, boot and shoe makers,
builders and bricklayers, water transport workers, and general labourers.
Class 2.—Those occupations in which the death rates for the early age-groups
are above, and for the later age-groups are below the average. The main occupations
in the class are :—metal workers, makers of foods, drinks, etc., carpenters,
painters, railway workers, commercial travellers, insurance agents, clerks, and
warehousemen.
Class 3.—Those occupations in which the death rates for the early age-groups
are below, and for the later age-groups are above the average. This class contains
fitters, tailors, workers in wood, messengers, persons employed in entertainments,
and personal service, inn-keepers, etc.
Class 4.—Those occupations in which the death rates are below the average in
both age-groups. The main occupations included in this class are workers in
chemicals, precious metals, electrical apparatus, road transport workers, commercial
occupations, public administration, and professional occupations.
Much more detailed investigation into the various occupations followed in an
industry is required before a definite opinion can be formed on the relationship
between occupation and pulmonary tuberculosis.
Mental Deficiency Act, 1913.
On 31st December, 1923, of the 3,223 cases being dealt with at the expense of
the Council, there were—In institutions, 1,675 ; under guardianship, 15 ; under
supervision, 1,510; in places of safety waiting other action, 23. There remained
2,934 out of the total number 6,157 of cases of alleged mental defect, of which
notice has been received since the Act came into operation. These cases include
381 in which no action could be taken; 1,192 ascertained not defective, or not to
be London cases ; 508 dealt with through the Poor Law ; 669 removed from the
register (died, discharged, or removed to mental hospitals), and 184 still under
consideration.

During the year 821 cases were examined with the following results :—

Type.Male.Female.Total.
Idiot20828
Imbecile9890188
Feeble-minded238283521
Moral imbecile22
Not defectivo452065
Insufficient evidence61117
Total409412821

In addition to the foregoing, certain cases were examined while still of school
age, and are recorded in the section relating to the school medical services.
During the year 10 occupation centres have been opened and operate under the Occupation
proviso that 75 per cent. of the cases on the roll of each centre shall be cases which
have been placed under statutory supervision. Four of the centres are grouped in