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
London County Council 1929
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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The following table shows the result of the enquiry and also (IIbrackets) the corresponding figures ascertained from last year's enquiry into the 1922 cases:—
| * Class. | Total. | Percentage alive five years alter discharge. | Percentage dead. |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 414 (372) | 78.9 (80.6) | 21.1 (19.4) |
| B 1 | 284 (253) | 63 0 (60.1) | 37.0 (39.9) |
| B 2 | 1,669 (1,376) | 32.5 (33.9) | 67.5 (66.1) |
| B 3 | 784 (824) | 6.9 ( 5.6) | 93.1 (94.4) |
| Surgical | 245 (192) | 77.6 (71.9) | 22.4 (28.1) |
* The classification adopted is as follows:—
A. Cases in which tubercle bacilli have not been demonstrated in the sputum;
B. Cases in which tubercle bacilli have been demonstrated in the sputum;
B.l Early cases;
B.2 Moderately advanced cases; and
B.3 Advanced cases.
Particulars obtained in 1928 as to the fitness for work of the 1,293 surviving
adult patients who were discharged from treatment in 1923 show that out of a total
of 506, A. and B.l cases, 69.4 per cent. were at work. The corresponding percentage
for the A. and B.l cases in the 1922 group was 65.0. The percentages at work in the
other categories and also the corresponding figures for the 1922 group (shown in
brackets) are as follows:—B.2, 47 (39) per cent.; B.3, 31.5 (22) per cent.; and
surgical 63.1 (73) per cent. Of the total number of 1,293 in all categories, 57.5 (53.5)
per cent. were at work, 5.7 (3.7) per cent. were fit for work but were unemployed,
35.8 (42.8) per cent. were unable to work (including cases receiving further residential
treatment. It may be mentioned that the percentage fit for work but unemployed
(viz., 5.7) is exactly the same as the percentage of insured workpeople in the general
population of London out of employment during the year 1928.
Children.—The particulars obtained as to the after histories of children discharged
in 1923 relate to 474, of which 196 are pulmonary and 278 nonpulmonary.
The mortality records are as follows. (The figures in brackets refer to last year's enquiry into the 1922 cases):—
| Class. | Total. | Percentage alive five years after discharge. | Percentage dead. |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 136 (225) | 88.7 (95.5) | 11.3 (4.5) |
| B.l | 7 (16) | 71.4 (62.5) | 28.6 (37.5) |
| B.2 | 18 (27) | 11.1 (37.0) | 88.9 (63.0) |
| B.3 | 35 (39) | 14.3 (7.7) | 85.7 (92.3) |
| Surgical | 278 (206) | 89.9 (84.0) | 10.1 (16.0) |
The mortality rates of the non-pulmonary cases classified according to the location of the disease are as follows:—
| Total. | Percentage alive five years after discharge. | Percentage dead | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hip | 62 | 88.7 (82.2) | 11.3 (17.8) |
| Spine | 38 | 73.7 (68.4) | 26.3 (31.6) |
| Other bones | 64 | 98.4 (90.0) | 1.6 (10.0) |
| Glands | 100 | 93.0 (93.0) | 7.0 (7.0) |
| Other parts | 14 | 78.6 (66.7) | 21.4 (33.3) |
Of the 133 surviving pulmonary cases 41 were at school and 79 at work, and of
250 surviving non-pulmonary cases, 102 were at school and 116 at work.