Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Marylebone, Metropolitan Borough]
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great advantage. Their families, especially those members who are found to be
in need of treatment and who are put in the way of getting it with every hope of
cure resulting will also benefit, and there should follow limitation of the spread
of infection and a diminution in the number of hopeless cases in the future.
For all these reasons, but especially the last, the Council and the inhabitants
at large must regard the institution with favour. It is a matter of some
importance and worthy of note that St. Marylebone was one of the first three
London Boroughs to see a dispensary for the prevention of consumption
established within its borders.
Bacteriological Diagnosis of Consumption.—During the year 112 specimens of
expectoration from persons suspected to be suffering from consumption were
submitted for examination. Of these, 28 were found to contain the bacillus of
tuberculosis and in 84 the result was negative.
Distribution of Consumption.—During the year a register of premises
throughout the Borough in which deaths from consumption had occurred, or
cases were notified as being present, was commenced. This register will prove
of the utmost value and will become increasingly useful.
At the end of the year also a map of the Borough was prepared to show
the distribution of the deaths from consumption which had occurred during the
course of five years, 1906-1910. Fins of different colours were employed, one
being introduced as near to the address at which the death took place as possible.
Unfortunately, it is not easy to obtain a good photograph of a map marked in
this way, but such a good idea of the areas mainly involved is given even in the
photograph of the "spot map" that it has been considered worth while
reproducing it.
Other Tubercular Diseases.
The figures regarding forms of tuberculosis other than consumption have
already been referred to and will be found on page 21.
DISINFECTION.
During 1910, infectious diseases being less prevalent than in 1909, the
amount of disinfection carried out was rather smaller. The figures relating to
the work are set forth in the following tables. For the disinfection of infected
articles one steam disinfector was used, viz., Goddard, Massey & Warner's
machine.