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 1931
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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The following table indicates the number of applications from adults for residential treatment during each of the last five years:—
| Year | Application for first period of treatment | Application for further treatment | Total applications | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ex-service | Civilian male | Female | Ex-service | Civilian male | Female | ||
Of the 6,174 adult cases recommended during 1931 for residential treatment,
under the tuberculosis scheme 72 were subsequently withdrawn, 4,872 were accepted
and 1,230 were not accepted. The 4,872 cases were disposed of as follows:—(a)
1,654 were passed for admission to "observation" beds in order to determine
"diagnosis" or "suitability for sanatorium treatment"; (b) 3,218 were passed
for admission direct to sanatoria or hospitals. Of the foregoing accepted cases, 286
for various reasons failed to enter institutions.
The 1,230 cases not accepted under the scheme were generally cases of advanced
disease of the type formerly dealt with by boards of guardians. Many of these have
been accommodated in the Council's general hospitals or, if ambulant, in voluntary
institutions in the country as "municipal" patients.
The cases referred to "observation" hospitals were generally (1) patients in
whom the diagnosis of tuberculosis was doubtful; (2) acute cases; and (3) patients
with well-marked symptoms whose suitability for sanatorium treatment could only
be satisfactorily determined after a period of observation in hospital.
During the year, 1,539 patients were discharged from "observation beds" and their classification was as follows (the corresponding figures for 1930 also being given):—
| *Pulmonary. | 1931. | 1930. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number. | Percentage. | Number. | Percentage. | |
In the remaining 368 cases the diagnosis of tuberculosis was not confirmed. Of
the 1,171 cases definitely diagnosed as tuberculous, 867 pulmonary cases were sent to
sanatoria, 31 to institutions for advanced cases, 9 died in the "observation"
hospitals, 4 cases were transferred to surgical institutions, and 260 were discharged
home or arrangements made for them independently of the Council's tuberculosis
scheme (including patients sent to voluntary institutions as "municipal" cases).
The total number of admissions to institutions during 1931 was 5,192, compared
with 4,907 in 1930. At the beginning of the year 2,259 patients were under treatment
so that the total number of cases treated in 1931 was 7,451, compared with 6,990
in 1930. The number of tuberculosis scheme cases under treatment on 31st December,
*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.
Bl.—Early cases.
B2.—Moderately advanced cases.
B3.—Advanced cases.