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 1937

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Croydon]

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117
Of the cases whose records are at the Clinic, it will be seen
that of the total number that received sanatorium treatment during
the past five years only 47.1% are working or fit for work. The
remainder are dead or too ill to work. In those cases with a positive
sputum, i.e., those in whom tubercle bacilli have been found
in the sputum, only 35.5%, or just over one third, are working or
fit for work.
534, or 72.6% of the total cases discharged, were T.B. + cases;
136, or 18.5% of the total cases discharged, have removed from the
Borough, and as we have no information about their condition at
the end of 1937, they have been ignored in working out the above
percentages.

Table: It is instructive to compare the results obtained in cases dis charged from Sanatoria during the five years 1933—1937, with those for 1928 —1932, and this is done in the Table below.

It is instructive to compare the results obtained in cases dis charged from Sanatoria during the five years 1933—1937, with those for 1928 —1932, and this is done in the Table below.

Result.Five years, 1928-1932.Five years, 1933-1937.1928-1932.1933-1937.
T.B.T.B. +T.B.T.B. +
Dead16279 = 45.8%16169 = 38.2%295185
39.0%30.8%
Working or106121 = 19.9%126157 =35.5%227283
30.0%47.1%
Not able to work26208 = 34.2%16116=26.2%234132
30.9%22.0%
Left District30954492125136
Totals178703202534881736

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This Table shows clearly the improved results obtained during
the last five years, 17.1% more patients are fit for work and the
number who died during the five years decreased by 8.2%. The
decreased incidence is shown in the smaller total number of cases,
the greater relative proportion of T.B.-cases appears to
indicate a tendency for cases to come earlier for treatment.