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 1936
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Croydon]
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101
The Clinic Register of Cases.
The number of cases of Tuberculosis under the supervision of
the Clinic at the end of the year was 849 This is equivalent to
3.51 persons per 1,000 of the population.
The Clinic Register is revised annually, so as to make it a
correct record of the cases in the Borough who are under the supervision
of the clinic. By this yearly revision the Register is kept
a "live" one.
During the year 114 Clinic cases died; of this number, 23 or
20.1% were seen for the first time in 1936.
Examination of Sputum.
This is done by the Council's Bacteriologist in the Laboratory
at the Croydon General Hospital.
The results of examinations made in 1936 are as follows:—
| For Clinic. | For General Practitioners. | For Mayday Hospital. | Totals. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Positive (i.e., tubercle bacilli present) | 369 | 98 | 289 | 756 |
| Negative (i.e., tubercle bacilli absent) | 530 | 676 | 392 | 1,598 |
| Total | 899 | 774 | 681 | 2,354 |
For each 100 new cases and contacts examined at the Clinic
127 specimens of sputum were examined.
1936 shows an increase in the number of examinations of sputa
made for General Practitioners. It is difficult to understand why
this simple test is not always made in any doubtful chest condition.
X-ray Work.
A greater number of doubtful and difficult cases were sent for
radiological examinations than in previous years. Each year this
penalised examination is being increasingly used. By this means
the number of beds necessary for the observation of such cases has
been reduced and cases of Bronchiectasis, Pulmonary tumour, etc.,
discovered which otherwise would have been classed as suffering
from Pulmonary Tuberculosis.