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 1948
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
- Published
- 1949
- Pages
- 148
- Tables
- 107
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Page 8
England and Wales—Civilian Mortality from Cancer , 1940 to 1947
Crude death rate per 1,000, all ages combined expressed as per cent. of 1938 rates Comparative Mortality Index* (Base year 1938) Males Females Males Females -
Page 8
Cancer Death-rate (all ages) per 1,000
Year Males Females London England and Wales London per cent. of E. and W. London England and Wales London per cent. of E. and w. -
Page 10
London : Changes in Mortality Rates between 1931-33 and 1946-48 (all ages).
Site Males Females Mean death-rate 1946-48 per 1,000 Change between 1931-33 and 1946-48 Mean death-rate 1946-48 per 1,000 Change between 1931-33 and 1946-48 -
Page 11
compared with a rate of 18.1 in 1947. Comparative rates for London and England and Wales in recent years are:—
London England and Wales -
Page 12
London : Deaths of Infants per 1,000 Live Births
Under 4 weeks Between 4 weeks and one year -
Page 12
The distribution of causes of death in the first four weeks of life in 1948 was as follows:—
Cause No. of deaths % Total -
Page 13
London:
Year Live and still births Deaths Notifications Puerperal sepsis Other childbirth Puerperal pyrexia No. Rate No. Rate No. Rate -
Page 13
The analysis of maternal deaths for the two years into (i) post-abortion (ii) other, is as follows:—
Cause of Death 1948 1947 Postabortion Other Total Postabortion Other Total No. Rate No. Rate No. Rale No. Rate No. Rate No. Rate -
Page 14
In London, the death-rates from dysentery since the beginning of the century have been as follow:—
Mean annual death-rate per 1,000 -
Page 18
London Deaths from Heart Disease under 45 years
1948 1947 Age . 0-l 1-4 5-14 15-44 Total Age .0-1 1-4 5-14 15-44 Total -
Page 19
Civilian death-rates per 1,000 living in 1948 in London and for the whole country were:—
Pulmonary Non-pulmonary -
Page 21
The following table shows the number of houses and flats erected or brought into commission by repairs during 1948:—
In London Outside London Area Total -
Page 22
The following are details of the sampling and the results of examinations :—
Source of sample Designation Samples Percentage positive of completed samples Total Positive Incomplete Negative 1948 1947 -
Page 23
Examinations by the Council's ophthalmologists
Classification Certified blind Not blind Grand total Male Female Total Male Female Total -
Page 23
Persons examined as to suitability for training
Suitable Not suitable Grand total Male Female Total Male Female Total -
Page 29
Analysis of the Tenure of Premises Transferred to the Council from the Metropolitan Borough Councils on 5th July, 1948
Maternity and child welfare centres Day nurseries -
Page 34
The position as regards nursery accommodation on 31st December, 1948, was as follows:—
Total accommodation Number of children in residence -
Page 43
Number of persons vaccinated (or re-vaccinated) during period 5th July to 31st December
Age at 31st Dec., 1948 i.e., born in years:- Under 1 1948 1 to 4 1944 to 1947 5 to 14 1934 to 1943 15 or over Before 1934 Total -
Page 44
Continued from previous page...
Re-vaccinated Division -
Page 48
The nature of the cases dealt with by the accident section was :—
1947 1948 Increase or decrease -
Page 48
Street accident cases by ages were:—
1947 1948 Age (in years) Males Females Sex not stated Totals Males Females Sex not stated Totals -
Page 49
General Section
Year Miles run Persons conveyed Patients Relatives of patients, staff, etc. Total -
Page 49
Removals carried out on behalf of the Council under agency arrangements between 5th July, 1948, and 31st December, 1948:—
Patients carried Mileage -
Page 52
The following is a summary of the work done from 1st January to 4th July, 1948, by the units in operation for the general public with corresponding figures for the period 1st January to 31st December, 1947, in brackets:—
Number Per cent. of miniatures -
Page 52
Particulars of the numbers of persons examined from 5th July to 31st December, 1948, are as follow:—
Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board Boroughs, etc., covered Number of miniature films taken -
Page 53
The number of recommendations for residential treatment for the period from 1st January to 4th July, 1948, with the corresponding figures for the last five years and 1938 were:—
Year For the first period of treatment For further treatment Total Ex- Service Service sick† Civilian adults Children Ex- Service Service sick† Civilian adults Children Male Female Male Female -
Page 53
Patients recommended for treatment during the period from 1st January to 4th July, 1948, were dealt with as follows (the corresponding figures for the years 1938 and 1945-7 are also shown).
Adults Children 1938 1945 1946 1947 1 Jan. to 4 July, 1948 1938 1945 1946 1947 1 Jan. to 4 July, 1948 -
Page 54
The number of beds occupied by patients under the tuberculosis scheme on 4th July, 1948 (with corresponding figures at 31st December for the years 1938 and 1943-47), was as follows: the figures in brackets represent the number of ex-Service men and women (included in the figures) whose tuberculous condition has been accepted by the Ministry of Pensions as connected with war service:—
Year Council's special hospitals and sanatoria Council's general hospitals Voluntary institutions Total -
Page 55
The table below gives the number of patients completing treatment and of defaulters as shown by analysis of the returns from the clinics for the year 1948:—
Syphilis Gonorrhœa Male Female Male Female -
Page 58
The following table shows the number of cases dealt with by the mental welfare officers during the period 5th July to 31st December, 1948, and the action taken in respect of them:—
Male Female Total -
Page 59
The following table shows the sources from which cases have been brought to notice under the Mental Deficiency Acts and the action taken thereon:—
Source of information From 1st April, 1914, to 31st December, 1948 1948 only -
Page 60
Position as at 31st December, 1948 with regard to the cases referred to in the first column of the preceding table:—
-
Page 61
The centres established up to 31st December, 1948, were:—
Date of opening Address of centre Borough Average No. on roll Average daily attendance -
Page 63
Routine (detailed) inspections
1938 1946 1947 1948 No. % No. % No. % No. % -
Page 63
Summary of medical inspections, 1948
(a) Routine Inspections Age Group Boys Girls Total -
Page 64
(6) Other Inspections
-
Page 64
Pupils referred for treatment
Age group and sex Number of pupils examined No. of pupils referred for treatment (a) No. Percentage 1948 1947 -
Page 64
Defects found on medical inspection to require treatment or observation
1938 1946 1947 1948 -
Page 66
The table below shows the percentage of children with normal eyesight (with glasses if worn) in 1948 with comparable figures for 1938, 1946 and 1947:—
Age Group 1938 1946 1947 1948 -
Page 66
the London figures are (in percentage of children examined):—
Old classification 1 Excellent 2 Normal 3 and 4 Sub-normal and bad -
Page 67
The table below gives the percentages of children found to harbour vermin, i.e., nits and/or vermin in their hair at routine inspections during 1948 with corresponding figures for previous years:—
Age Group 1938 1946 1947 1948 -
Page 68
During the year the particulars of the cases treated at the Council's treatment
centres were:— Individuals Treatments 1947 1948 1947 1948 -
Page 68
The number of defects for which pupils were re-inspected for defects were:—
Number of defects (other than dental) Number of dental defects Total defects -
Page 69
tde following table shows the number of new cases treated at the school treatment centres and at the co-operating hospitals in 1938, 1946, 1947 and 1948:—
Ailment 1938 1946 1947 1948 -
Page 71
The division between the various categories under which the children were examined is as follows:—
-
Page 71
A. Day Special Schools
Defect No. of schools Roll Boys Girls -
Page 72
B. Residential Special Schools
Defect No. of schools Accommodation Roll Residential Day Boys Girls -
Page 72
The Council also maintained the following seven hospitals for children requiring medical treatment, education being given when the children were considered fit for it by the medical staff:—
Roll Boys Girls -
Page 73
The following table, supplied by the Education Officer, shows the result of a census of the total numbers of school pupils provided with school meals and/or milk on two typical days in the months of June and October, 1948:—
Number in attendance on selected day Number who had dinner Number who had milk—one-third pint free Free Paying Totals June October June October June October June October June October -
Page 74
The numbers of schools kept under observation during 1948 by school nursing sisters on account of the principal infectious diseases are shown in the following table:—
Diphtheria Scarlet fever Measles Whooping-cough Chicken-pox Mumps Total -
Page 74
During the year there was a marked f a l ling on in the number o f cases o f scalp ringworm as indicated in the following table:—
Year New cases Cured cases Cases outstanding at end of year Percentage of cures effected by X-ray treatment -
Page 75
Analysis of cases referred for psychiatric examination in the 6 month period—1st May-3lst October
Sex and age 8 years 9-10 11-13 14 15 and over Total -
Page 79
As an example, the following is a summary of the report of the divisional treatment organiser, three of whose assistants act as the link between Guy's Hospital Children's Out-Patient Department and the special clinics of the School Health Service.
Children's Dept. Ear, nose and throat Eyes Orthopaedic Skin General Orthoptic -
Page 85
Hospital dental service In the first six months of the year the Council's hospital dental service carried out the following treatments with the equivalent of nineteen full-time dental surgeons
General Hospitals Mental Hospitals Other Special Hospitals -
Page 88
M.C.W. work General Total -
Page 90
The numbers of patients admitted during the period 1st January to 4th July, 1948, are shown below:—
-
Page 91
During the period 1st January to 4th July, 1948, examinations were made in the Group Laboratory and in the subsidiary laboratories at the hospitals and institutions. These tests may be grouped broadly as:—
Classification Number of tests Total In group laboratory In subsidiary laboratories -
Page 113
IV—D istrict N ursing A ssociations and H ospitals Agreements between the Council and the hospitals and district nursing associations lay down conditions under which district midwifery services are provided. The payments made by the Council have varied from time to time as follows:—
Date Hospitals District nursing associations £ s. d. £ s. d. -
Page 114
STATISTICS Table 1— Population* of the administrative County of London, 1921-1947
Year Mid-year estimate of population Average age Total 0-4 5-14 15-24 25-44 45-64 65+ -
Page 115
T able 2 — Vital statistics for the metropolitan boroughs and the County of London in the year 1948 ( b )
Metropolitan boroughs arranged in divisional order Estimated civilian population, 1948 Live births Deaths Infant mortality (pel 1,000 live births) Measles Diphtheria Whooping cough Diarrhœa and enteritis age 0-2 (per 1,000 live births) Pulmonary tuberculosis Pneumonia Other reap dis. Cancer Maternal mortality (per 1,000 total births) Notifications of infections disease Scarlet fever Diphtheria Typhoid fever Erysi pelas Cerebrospinal fever Acute pneumonia Measles Whooping cough Tuberculosi Pulmonary Non-pulmonary -
Page 116
T able 3— County of London—Principal vital statistics, 1891-1948
Period Annual rate per 1,000 living Annual mortality per 1,000 living (b) Annual mortality per 1,000 Live births Total births (c) Live births Marriages Deaths (all causes) Cerebrospinal fever Diphtheria Enteric fever Scarlet fever Smallpox Whooping-cough Measles Influenza Tuberculosis Pneumonia (all forms) Bronchitis Other respdiseases Heart disease Cancer Diabetes Infants 0—1 Diarrhœa and enteritis 0—2 Puerperal fever Other acc. of oh. birth Pulmonary Non-pulmonary -
Page 117
T able 4— Administrative County of London—Civilian deaths in 1948 by cause
Cause Sex 0— 1— 5— 15— 45— 65 + Total 1948 1947 -
Page 118
T able 4— Administrative County of London—Civilian deaths in 1948 by cause—continued
Cause Sex 0— 1— 5— 15— 45— 65+ Total 1948 1947 -
Page 118
T able 5— Live births and Stillbirths—Administrative County of London
Year Live births Stillbirths Stillbirth Rate per 1,000 live and stillbirths -
Page 119
Table 6— County of London—Infant mortality, 1948
Cause of death Age at death Total Rates per 1,000 live births Under 1 day 1 to 7 days 1 to 4 wks. 4 weeks to 1 year No. Males Females Total Male Female -
Page 119
T able 7— Infant mortality in London by cause 1911—1948 (Rates per 1,000 live births)
Cause of death 1911 to 1914 1915 to 1918 1919 to 1922 1923 to 1926 1927 to 1930 1931 to 1934 1935 to 1938 1939 to 1942 1943 to 1946 1946 1947 1948 -
Page 120
Table 8— Maternal mortality—London and England and Wales 1939-48 (Rates per 1,000 total births)
1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 -
Page 120
Table 9 —Maternal mortality in London 1931-48
Metropolitan boroughs arranged in divisional order Childbirth deaths (a) per 1,000 total-births Number of deaths (b) in childbirth 1948 1931-40 1941-48 Puerperal fever Other causes Total Puerperal fever Other causes Total Puerperal fever Other causes Total -
Page 121
T able 10— Death-rates from certain infectious diseases—London and England and Wales—1931-48 Rates are per 1,000 living except for diarrhœa and enteritis where it is expressed per 1,000 live births
Year Measles Whooping-cough Scarlet fever Diphtheria Diarrhœa & enteritis under 2 London E. & W. London E. & W. London E. & W. London E. & W. London E. & W. -
Page 122
Table 12— Primary notifications (a) of and deaths from tuberculosis in the Administrative County of London
Year Pulmonary tuberculosis Non-pulmonary tuberculosis Formal primary notifications Deaths Formal primary notifications Deaths No. Annual rate per 1,000 living No. Annual rate per 1,000 living No. Annual rate per 1,000 living No. Annual rate per 1,000 living -
Page 122
Table 13(a)— Tuberculosis—Primary notifications in London during the year 1948
Form of tuberculosis notified Sex Number of formal primary notifications of new cases of tuberculosis Total all ages 0– 1– 5– 10– 15– 20– 25– 35– 45– 65– 65+ -
Page -
Table 11—County of London—Notifiable infectious diseases—Annual number of notifications and numbers per 1,000 of population—1931.1948
Year Anthrax Cerebrospinal fever Continued fever Diphtheria Dysentery Encephalitis lethargica Enteric fever Erysipelas Malaria Measles Ophthalmia neonatorum Pneumonia Polioencephalitis Poliomyelitis Puerperal pyrexia Scabies Scarlet fever Smallpox Typhus Whooping. cough Cases Rate Cases Rate Cases Rate Cases Rate Cases Rate Cases Rate Cases Rate Cases Rate Cases Rate Cases Rate Cases Rate Cases Rate Cases Rate Cases Rate Cases Rate Cases Rate Cases Rate Cases Rate Cases Rate Cases Rate -
Page 123
Table 13(b)— New cases of tuberculosis in London found by other means than notification, 1948
Form of tuberculosis Sex New cases of tuberculosis coming to knowledge otherwise than by formal notification 0- 1- 6- 10- 15- 20- 25- 35- 45- 55- 65 + Total -
Page 123
The sources of information as to the unnotified cases shown above were as follows:—
Source of information Number of cases Pulmonary Non-pulmonary -
Page 123
Table 13 (c)—Numbers on the registers, for the whole county, 1941-1948
Cases on the register at the end of the year— 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 -
Page 124
Table 14.— New cases (a) of tuberculosis in London (A.C.) by age 1938.39 and 1946—48 Morbidity rates (i) Pulmonary
Age Group 1938 1939 1946 1947 1948 No. Rate per 1,000 No. Rate per 1,000 No. Rate per 1,000 No. Rate per 1,000 No. Rate per 1,000 -
Page 124
(ii) Non — Pulmonary
Age Group 1938 1939 1946 1947 1948 No. Rate per 1,000 No. Rate per 1,000 No. Rate per 1,000 No. Rate per 1,000 No. Rate per 1,000 -
Page 125
Table 15— New cases of non — pulmonary Tuberculosis in London (A.C.) 1938.1939 and 1946.1948. Distribution according to site Rates for 1,000 living are shown in parenthesis against the number of cases
Age group Year Bones and Joints Abdomen Site of tuberculous lesion Other sites (a) Total Peripheral glands Meninges -
Page 125
Table 16— New cases of Tuberculosis in London (A .C.) 1938.1948—Sex Ratios (i) Pulmonary
Year 0—14 15—24 25—64 65 + Age Group Total (a) M F M/F M F M/F M F M/F M F M/F M F M/F -
Page 126
Table 17— Cases of infectious illness reported from schools in 1948 and preceding years
Year Chicken-pox Diphtheria German measles Impetigo Measles Mumps Ophthalmia and conjunctivitis Poliomyelitis Ringworm Scabies Scarlet fever Whooping. cough -
Page 126
Table 18— Diphtheria Immunisation—Year ended 31.12.48
Immunisation in relation to Child population Divisions Totals Age at 31-1-48 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 -
Page 127
Table 19— Treatment of venereal disease at London clinics
Year New cases Total venereal cases Total non-venereal cases Syphilis S. Chancre Gonorrhoea m. f. m. f. m. f. m. f. m. f. -
Page 127
Continued from previous page...
Year Total attendances In-patient days Pathological examinations for M. F. M. F. Clinic Practitioners -
Page 128
Table 20— Leaver contra-indications for employment
Contra-indication Boys Girls Number Per cent. of inspected pupils (11,944) (a) Number Per cent. of inspected pupils (11,102) (a) -
Page 128
"ASCERTAINMENT" OF HANDICAPPED CHILDREN Table 21 —Vision cases
Boys Girls Total -
Page 129
Table 22 — Hearing cases A. Children not in special schools :—
Boys Girls Total -
Page 129
Table 23 — Epilepsy cases A. Children not in special schools :—
Boys Girls Total -
Page 130
Table 24— Educationally sub-normal A. Children not in special schools :—
Boys Girls Total -
Page 130
B .i. Children in attendance at special E.S.N. schools specially examined and—
Boys Girls Total -
Page 131
T able 26— Physically handicapped children
Boys Girls Total -
Page 131
(i) Number of these children recommended for P.H. schools :—
Morbid condition Day Residential Grand total Boys Girls Total Boys Girls Total -
Page 131
(ii) Number of these children recommended for ordinary schools :—
Morbid condition Boys Girls Total -
Page 132
B. Children already in attendance at Special (P. H.) Schools :—
Boys Girls Total -
Page 132
(i) Number of these children found to be no longer in need of special educational treatment:—
Morbid condition Day P. H. Schools Res. P. H. Schools Grand total Boys Girls Total Boys Girls Total -
Page 132
(ii) Other recommendations :—
Morbid condition Day P. H. Schools Residential P. H. Schools Continue Day School Transfer to Res. School Continue Res. School Transfer to Day School Grand total B. G. T. B. G. T. B. G. T. B. G. T. -
Page 133
Table 27— Dual defects The following children were found on examination to suffer from more than one handicap:—
Boys Girls Total -
Page 133
Table 28— Speech defects
Boys Girls Total -
Page 133
In addition 2 children were recommended for admission to Moor House Residential Special School for Speech Defects. Table 29— Maladjusted children
Boys Girls Total -
Page 133
In addition the Consultant Psychiatrist examined 44 special cases, and made reports on them. Table 30— Diabetic children Number of children found to be diabetic and suitable for residential treatment:—
Boys Girls Total -
Page 133
Table 31 — Re-classification The following table shows the number of children re-classified (i.e., found upon examination to be in need of different special educational treatment):—
Boys Girls Total -
Page 134
RHEUMATISM Table 32— Nominations for treatment under the scheme
1946 1947 1948 -
Page 134
Supervision
-
Page 134
Rheumatism and/or chorea with cardiac involvement Rheumatism and/or chorea with no cardiac involvement Sex No. Percentage of Total No. Percentage of Total Total -
Page 135
End results of treatment
Sex Fit for ordinary school or any employment Fit for p .h. school or light employment Unfit for school or work Died Total No. Percentage of total No. Percentage of total No. Percentage of total No. Percentage of total -
Page 135
Table 34- Percentage number of children with cardiac involvement admitted to the rheumatism units, 1934-1948
-
Page 136
Table 35 County of London—Statistics of the administrative work carried out by the Metropolitan Borough Councils during the year 1948
Sanitary authority Cowsheds Slaughterhouses Offensive trades Smoke nuisances Common lodging houses Cleansing of persons and rooms Water supply Milk- shops ice cream premises Restaurants and eating houses No. licensed No. of inspections No. licensed No. of inspections No. authorised No. of inspections Observations Intimations Complaints Notices Houses licensed No. of inspections Persons Rooms or premises Tenement houses extra supply No. on register No. of inspections No. on register No. of inspections No. of places No. of inspections Adults Children After infectious diseases For vermin -
Page 137
T able 36 Statistics of the administrative work carried out by the Metropolitan Borough Councils during 1948
Borough No. of houses in borough Public Health Act Housing Acts, 1936 No. of houses inspected on account of complaints or illness No. of statutory notices served No. of houses repaired No. of houses inspected Section 25 Sections 9 & 10 Number of houses demolished Closing Orders Overcrowding No. of dwellings for working classes erected during the year Underground rooms Houses let in lodgings No. of houses represented No. of houses demolished No. of houses repaired No. of families overcrowded No. of families alternative accom-obtained No. occupied but unfit No. closed or modified occupation approved No. in borough No. of inspections No. of prosecutions No. of complaints remedied Section 11 Voluntarily No. made No. determined By owners By L. A.