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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

London County Council 1924

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

Published
1925
Pages
163
Tables
68

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68 tables in this report

  • Page 8
    There is also shown in the table what the rates for each period would have been if there had been an even rate of decline throughout the period 1871-1915, and the difference between these hypothetical rates and the actual figures, also shown, indicates at what times and to what extent there has been a departure from an even fall.
    Period.Actual Birth-rate (average tor period).Hypothetical Birth-rate (on basis of even rate of decline for 1871 to 1915)Departure of actual rate from even rate of decline (Col. 2 minus Col. 3).Actual marriage-rate (average for period).Hypothetical marriage rate (on basis of even rate of decline for 1871 to 1915)Departure of actual rate from even rate of decline (Col. 5 minus Col. 6).
    (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)
  • Page 9
    The distribution of deaths by ages in 1924 is shown in the following table, with corresponding figures for post-war years:
    Year.0—1—2—5—10—15—20—25—35—45—55—65 +All ages.
  • Page 9
    In the following table the deaths under one year of age, per thousand births, from the principal causes of infant mortality are shown for 1924 and preceding years:
    Cause of Death.1911 to 1914.1915.1916.1917.1918.1919.1920.1921.1922.1923.1924.
  • Page 19
    The following is an analysis of the corrected notifications in London during 1924 (53 weeks):—
    Form of tuberculosis notified.Sex.Notifications on Form A. (Total of primary notifications received in London boroughs, other than elementary school cases, infra.)
    0-1-5-10-15-20-25-35-45-55-65 +Total.
  • Page 21
    The following table shows the age incidence of actual cases of cerebro-spinal fever, poliomyelitis, polioencephalitis and encephalitis lethargica during 1924:—
    Age periods.Under 3.3-5.5-10.10-20.20-30.30-40.40-50.50-60.Over 60.Total.
  • Page 22
    The yearly incidence (notification figures) of cerebro-spinal fever, poliomyelitis and polioencephalitis since 1913 and of encephalitis lethargica since 1919 are shown in the table below:—
    1913.1914.1915.1916.1917.1918.1919.1920.1921.1922.1923.1924.
  • Page 35
    The number of cases notified in the four divisions referred to was as follows:—
    Division.No. of cases.
  • Page 35
    The age and sex incidence is shown in the following table:—
    Period.Age.Males.Females.Total.
  • Page 37
    customers on each of the three rounds. By use of this the following Table has been prepared.
    Area.No. of families supplied.Number of milk round.Total.Number of families in which there where typhoid cases.
  • Page 46
    The cases may be tabulated as follows—(E.L.=Encephalitis lethargica; C.S.M.=Cerebro-spinal meningitis):—
    Initials, age and sex.Provisional diagnosis.Consultation diagnosisLumbar puncture.Result and final diagnosis.
  • Page 47
    Continued from previous page...
    Initials, age and sex.Provisional diagnosis.Consultation diagnosis.Lumbar puncture.Result and final diagnosis.
  • Page 48
    The distribution of the new cases of disease between the sexes is shown in the following table, the figures for the preceding years being given for comparison. It will be seen that in the case of syphilis the figures for 1924 are considerably lower than for several years past.
    Year.New cases.Total venereal cases.
    Syphilis.Soft chancre.Gonorrhoea.
    M.F.M.F.M.F.M.F.
  • Page 49
    Comparative figures for the seven years the scheme has been in force are shown in the following table:—
    Year.New cases.Total.Attendances.In-patient days.
    Venereal.Non-venereal.
  • Page 49
    Another point worthy of note is the total number of examinations made of pathological specimens. Comparative figures for the seven years are shown in the following table.
    Year.Pathological examinations.
    For treatment centres.For private practitioners.
  • Page 50
    The table on p. 50 shows the houses in each borough in 1924
    Metropolitan borough.No. of houses.No. of houses for the working classes./ No. of representations.No. of closing orders.No. of houses demolished.
    In borough.Inhabited by working classes.Repaired by local authority.Erected.In course of erection.
    1924.1924.1924.1924.1924.1911-141915-191920-241911-141915-191920-241911-141915-191920-24
  • Page 51
    The subjoined table shows the number of sanitary officers and health visitors employed by the sanitary authorities in London:—
    Sanitary area.Sanitary inspectors.
    Male.Female.Health visitors.
    Whole time.Part time.Whole time.Part time.
  • Page 51
    Under the Council's scheme for the treatment of tuberculosis the total number of beds actually in use on 31st December, 1924, was as follows:—
    Institutions.Adults.Children.Total.
    Ex-service.Civilian.
  • Page 51
    5,634 applications for institutional treatment of adult patients were received, viz.:—
    First applications.Applications for further treatment.
  • Page 52
    Action taken with regard to 1,127 cases in which tuberculosis was diagnosed, compared with the figures for 1923:—
    Year.
    1924.1923.
  • Page 54
    The following were the results graded under the revised classifications :—
    Classification.Group.No. of Cases.Percentage.Percentage alive.Percentage dead.
  • Page 60
    During the year 653 cases were examined with the following results:—
    Idiot.Imbecile.Feeble minded.Moral Imbecile.Not Defective.Insufficient Evidence.Total.
  • Page 63
    TABLE I. COUNTY OF LONDON. Vital statistics for the several metropolitan boroughs and the County of London in the year 1924. (Rates per 1,000 of civil population.
    Metropolitan boroughs. (Arranged in topographical order.)Estimated civil population, 1924.Births.Deaths.Infant mortality (per 1,000 births).Measles.Scarlet fever.Diphtheria.Whooping cough.Typhoid fever.Diarrhœa and Enteritis, age 0-2 (per 1,000 births).Phthisis.Pneumonia.Bronchitis.Cancer.Cases of notifiable infectious disease. (a)
    Scarlet fever.Diphtheria.Typhoid fever.Erysipelas.Puerperal fever (per 1,000 births).Cerebrospinal fever.Acute pneumonia.
  • Page 64
    TABLE II. COUNTY OF LONDON. Statistics of the administrative work carried out during the year 1924.
    Sanitary Authority.Cowsheds.Slaughterhouses.Offensive Trades.Smoke nuisances.Underground rooms.Overcrowding.Houses let in lodgings.Common lodging houses.Cleansing of persons and rooms.Water supplyMilk. shops.Ice cream premises.Other food places.
    No. licensed.No. of inspections.No. licensed.No. of inspections.No. licensed.No. of inspections.Observations.Complaints.Notices.No. illegally occupied.No. closed or otherwise remedied.Instances found.No. remedied.No. on register.No. of inspections.Prosecutions.Houses licensed.Authorised , lodgers.Adults.Children.Premises or rooms.Tenement houses extra supply.No. on register.No. of inspections.No. on register.No. of inspections.No. of places.No. of inspections.
  • Page 65
    Tuberculosis Dispensaries—Analysis of Returns Jan.—Dec., 1924.
    123456789101112
    Borough and dispensary.Under observation on 1-1-1924 pending diagnosis.Examined for first time during 1924, including contacts.Number of contacts included in (3).Number included under (2) and (3) suffering fromNumber included under (2) and (3) found to be non-tuberculous.Under observation on 31st December, 1024, pending diagnosis or ceased attendance before comp etion of d agnos s.Total attendances.Visits to homes byHome consultations.Number referred to affiliated hospital.No. of specimens of sputum examined
    (a) Pulmonary.(b) Non-pulmonary.
    AdultsChildren.Adults.Children.Adults.Children.Adults.Child ren.Adults.Children.Adults.Children.Adults.Children.(a) Tuberculosis officer.(b) Dispen sary nurse.
  • Page 72
    The table sets out the percentage of children aged 12 with vision 6 /12 or worse.
    1913.1914.1923.1924.
  • Page 72
    The following are the results of the test during 1924 in the Whitechapel schools:-
    1924.Leavers.
    Boys.Girls.
    No.6/66/96/12 or worse.No.6/66/96/12 or worse.
  • Page 76
    by each of the school doctors. The following table shows the number of cases reported:—
    Entrants.8-year old.12-year old.Re-inspectionSpecials.
  • Page 76
    Enquiries were made in special schools also and the following numbers of additional children were found (January—July, 1924):—
    M.D.P.D.Blind and Myope.Deaf.Out of school cases and open-air schools.Total.
  • Page 77
    An analysis of the symptoms recorded was made in respect to the 245 cases reported with the following results (many children presenting two or more symptoms):—
    Symptoms.Elementary schools.M.D. and P.D. schools.Blind and Myope schools.Deaf schools.Open-air school and out of school cases.
    D.*S.†D.S.D.S.D.S.D.S.
  • Page 90
    The figures in brackets, which are included in the main figures of the column, indicate cases which the tuberculosis officers wish to re-examine themselves.
    (1) Hospital or dispensary.(2) Total number of cases referred to D.M.O.(3) No. of cases referred back to T.B.O. during year.After conference between tuberculosis officers and divisional medical officer.
    (4) Number no longer needing observation —excluded from scheme.(5) Number remaining in scheme
    (a) left(b) for review
  • Page 91
    tions. In contradistinction to chorea the ratio of incidence in boys and girls is exactly reversed, twice as many boys as girls being reported absent from encephalitis.
    Complaint.Children.Percentage of total.
    1921.1922.1923.1924.1921.1922.1923.1924.
  • Page 93
    The number of examinations made at rota visits during 1924, by the school nurses was 2,059,590; verminous conditions were present in 332,695 instances, or 16.1 per cent., as compared with 18.1 per cent., in 1923 and 18.7 per cent. in 1922. The results of the work for the last five years are*:—
    Year.Examinations at rota visits.Verminous conditions noted at rota visits.Per cent.Verminous children referred to stations.Subsequently cleansed by parents.Verminous children cleansed at stations.Scabies cases bathed at stations.
  • Page 96
    The success attending these endeavours to accelerate the return of children is reflected in the following table :—
    Period of absence from school.1920.1924.
    Carrier cases.Approx. percentage.Carrier cases.Approx. percentage.
  • Page 102
    The following tables show the death-rates per 100,000 living at each age-period. Measles.
    Period.All ages.0-1-2-3-4-5 -10-15 -20 +
  • Page 106
    The following table shows the number of exceptional children in London during 1924 and the incidence per 1,000 of the total elementary school population :—
    Defect.Children.Defect.Children.
    No.Incidence per 1,000.No.Incidence per 1,000.
  • Page 106
    307 children were referred for special examination as suffering from deafness These were seen by the Council's consulting aural surgeon, with the following results :—
  • Page 106
    In the cases found suitable for special education the cause of deafness has been classified as under :—
    Boys.Girls.Total.
  • Page 106
    The congenital cases were made up as follows :—
  • Page 108
    The acquired cases were due to the following causes :—
    Boys.Girls.Total.
  • Page 108
    The following statement shows the conditions found among the children certified suitable for admission to physically defective schools at the admission examinations during the year :—
    Morbid condition.Boys.Girls.Total.
  • Page 110
    The following table gives an analysis of the subsequent symptoms observed in 1924 relating to cases whose original attack occurred either in 1924, or in previous years ; in some of these the onset of the disease dates back for many years :—
    Year of onset of disease.1924.Prior to 1924.Total.
  • Page 111
    The standard is revealed in the following account of 70 cases certified directly as imbecile during 1924. The ages of the children were as follows :—
  • Page 111
    All the others were between the ages of 6 and 10, and among these the following conditions were found :—
  • Page 111
    Alter careers of children formerly attending special mentally detective schools.
    Male.Female.Total.
  • Page 112
    Continued From previous page...
    Male.Female.Total.
  • Page 120
    TABLE I. Medical Inspections, 1924. (a) ROUTINE INSPECTIONS. (6) OTHER INSPECTIONS.
    Age group.Boys.Girls.Total.Boys.Girls.Total.
  • Page 120
    TABLE II. (a) Defects found by Medical Inspection in 1924. ELEMENTARY AND SPECIAL SCHOOLS.
    Defect or disease.Routine inspections.Special inspections.
    Defects.Delects.
    Requiring treatment.Requiring observation only.Requiring treatment.Requiring observation only.
  • Page 121
    Continued from previous page...
    Defect or disease.Routine inspectionsSpecial inspections.
    Defects.Defects.
    Requiring treatment.Requiring observation only.Requiring treatment.Requiring observation only.
  • Page 121
    (b) Children found at routine medical inspection to require treatment (excluding uncleanliness).
    Age group.Inspected.Found to require treatment.Percentage requiring treatment.
  • Page 122
    TABLE III. Exceptional Children in London in 1924.
    Blind (including partially blind)—Boys.Girls.Total.
  • Page 123
    Continued from previous page...
    Physically defective —continued.Boys.Girls.Total.
  • Page 123
    TABLE IV. Defects treated during 1924. TREATMENT TABLE. Group I.—Minor Ailments (excluding uncleanliness, for which see Group V.).
    Disease or defect.Defects treated or under treatment.
    Under Council's scheme.Otherwise.Total.
  • Page 124
    Group II.—Defective Vision and Squint (excluding eye defects treated as Minor Ailments, Group I.).
    Defect or disease.Defects dealt with.
    Under Council's scheme.Otherwise.Total.
  • Page 124
    Group III.—Treatment of Defects of Throat and Nose. Number of defects.
    Received operative treatment.Received other forms of treatment.Total number treated.
    Under Council's scheme.Private practitioner or hospital.Total.
  • Page 124
    Group IV.—Dental Defects.
    (1) Number of children who were:—
  • Page 125
    The following table shows the provision for residential treatment under the scheme (excluding insured persons and ex-service men)† :—
    Year.New cases admitted during year.Beds occupied at end of year.
    Adults.Children.Total.Adults.Children.Total.
  • Page 125
    The following table shows the provision for residential treatment in London for insured persons and ex-service men :—
    Admissions during year.Beds occupied at end of year.
    Insured adults.Ex-service men.Total.Insured adults.Ex-service men.Total.
  • Page 130
    some particulars of the Council s work are as follows :—
    Year.Infants removed from foster mothers.Exemptions.Deaths.Infringements discovered.Cautions.Prosecutions.Convictions.
  • Page 132
    Particulars with regard to common lodging-houses licensed by the Council are as follows :—
    Year.Houses licensed.Lodgers authorised.Prosecutions.Convictions.Penalties and costs.Cases of infectious disease.
  • Page 132
    Particulars of seamen's lodging-houses licensed by the Council are as follows:—
    Year.Houses licensed.Lodgers authorised.Prosecutions.Convictions.Penalties and costs.Cases of infectious disease.
  • Page 132
    The following table gives particulars of licensed slaughterhouses, knac yards and registered offensive businesses for 1921-24:—
    Year.Slaughterhouses.Knackers' yards.Offensive businesses.
  • Page 134
    The quantities of sewage, etc., dealt with during 1924 were as follows :—
    Sewage treated—Million gallons.
  • Page 154
    Working-class dwellings.—The results of the years working compared with those of the previous year are as follows—
    Dwellings-1924-25.1923-24.
    Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1890—£s.d.£s.d.
  • Page 155
    The results tor the year 1924-25, compared with those for the previous year, are as follows—
    1924-25.1923-24.
    £s.d.£s.d.
  • Page 156
    The net deficiency under all heads tor the year 1924-25 was £28, 364 4s. 5d., as follows—
    1924-25.1923-24.
    Schemes undertaken by the Council—£s.d.£s.d.
  • Page 156
    Net Deficiency, 1924-25—How Met. The financial results for the year under the several sections are as follows—
    £s.d.
  • Page 157
    This is met or disposed of in the following manner—
    Exchequer subsidy.Transfers to or from Rate, etc. Accounts.(a) Carried forward or (b) disposed of by internal transfers.
    Special Country Account.General Country Account.Other Accounts.
    £sd£sd£sd£sd£sd
  • Page 157
    Capital Expenditure and Debt. The total capital expenditure in respect of housing up to 31st March, 1925, amounts to £17,163,582 1s. 8d., as follows—
    Non-assisted schemes.Assisted (1919) scheme.Assisted (1923) schemes.Assisted (1924) schemes.
    £s.d.£s.d.£s.d.£s.d.