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 1934
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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46
The lads have been kept under special observation by the chief officer of the
parks department, and his reports on all the boys have been uniformly excellent and
have borne testimony to the efficiency of the training at the colony. Only one
appointment had to be terminated on account of the relapse of the patient.
Following-up
of discharged
cases.
Adults.-During the year investigations were made concerning the adult cases
discharged from hospitals or sanatoria in 1928 ; the number investigated was 4,140,
including 261 surgical cases. The following table shows the result of the enquiry
and also (in brackets) the corresponding figures ascertained from last year's enquiry
into the 1927 cases:—
| Classification. | Total. | Percentage alive five years after discharge. | Percentage dead. |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 579 (505) | 75.1 (73.5) | 24.9 (26.5) |
| B 1 | 187 (206) | 65.7 (67.9) | 34.3 (32.1) |
| B 2 | 2,149(1,982) | 34.6 (33.8) | 65.4 (66.2) |
| B 3 | 964 (972) | 4.7 ( 6.1) | 95.3 (93.9) |
| Surgical | 261 (246) | 75.8 (73.9) | 24.2 (26.1) |
Particulars obtained in 1933 as to the fitness for work of the 1,548 surviving
adult patients who were discharged from treatment in 1928 show that out of a total
of 558 A and B1 cases, 74.2 per cent, were at work. The corresponding percentage
for the A and B1 cases in the 1927 group was 72.4. The percentages at work in the
other categories and also the corresponding figures for the 1927 group (shown in
brackets) are as follows :—B2, 54.3 (48.2) per cent. ; B3, 34.8 (21.7) per cent.; and
surgical, 67.2 (72.5) per cent. Of the total number of 1,548 in all categories, 62.5
(58.9) per cent, were at work, 6.7 (6.2) per cent, were fit for work but were unemployed,
30.8 (34.9) per cent, were unable to work (including cases receiving further
residential treatment).
Children.—The particulars obtained as to the after histories of children discharged
under 16 years of age in 1928 relate to 681, of whom 206 are pulmonary
and 475 non-pulmonary.
The mortality records are as follows, the figures in brackets referring to last year's enquiry into the 1927 cases :—
| Classification. | Total. | Percentage alive five years after discharge. | Percentage dead. |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 147 (143) | 87.8 (91.6) | 12.2 (8.4) |
| B 1 | 1 (2) | 100.0 (50.0) | — (50.0) |
| B 2 | 30 (18) | 36.7 (33.3) | 63.3 (66.7) |
| B 3 | 28 (25) | .- (-) | 100 0 (100 0) |
| Surgical | 475 (521) | 94.1 (94.4) | 5.9 (5.6) |
The mortality rates of the non-pulmonary cases classified according to the location of the disease are as follows :—
| Location of disease. | Total. | Percentage alive five years after discharge. | Percentage dead. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hip | 70 ( 69) | 91.5 (85.5) | 8.5 (14.5) |
| Spine | 41( 58) | 92.7 (84.5) | 7.3 (15.5) |
| Other bones | 108 ( 98) | 95.4 (95.9) | 4.6 ( 4.1) |
| Glands | 233 (271) | 95.3 (97.8) | 4.7 (2.2) |
| Other parts | 23 ( 25) | 87.0 (100.0) | 13.0 ( - ) |
Tuberculosis
dispensary
service.
Of the 138 surviving pulmonary cases 48 were at school and 72 at work, and of
447 surviving non-pulmonary cases, 178 were at school and 176 at work.
The tuberculosis dispensary service in London, while forming an integral part
of the Council's tuberculosis scheme, is provided by the Metropolitan Borough
Councils under conditions laid down by the Council.