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
Croydon 1931
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Croydon]
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The results of examinations made in 1931 are as follows:—
| For Dispensary. | For General Practitioners. | For Mayday Road Hospital. | Totals. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Positive (i.e., tubercle bacilli present) | 400 | 131 | 86 | 617 |
| Negative (i.e., tubercle bacilli absent | 534 | 675 | 123 | 1332 |
| Total | 934 | 806 | 209 | 1949 |
For each 100 new cases and contacts examined at the
Dispensary 82.8 specimens of sputum were examined.
The 806 examinations include a considerable number from
the Croydon General Hospital, in addition to those sent in by
General Practitioners.
Only a small proportion of the total number of patients sent to
the Dispensary have had their sputum examined before arrival,
although many have had both sputum and symptoms for months.
It is difficult to understand why this simple test is not universally
applied and so avoid delay in diagnosis.
1931, however, shows an increase in the number of examinations
of sputa made for General Pactitioners.
To much reliance is placed upon one negative sputum
examination. In any case in which it is considered advisable to
have the sputum examined, at least three specimens should be
submitted if the result is returned as negative.