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 Hendon]
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4.
The percentage of child population immunised is estimated to be as follows:-
Under 5 years of age | 58% |
Over 5 years and under 15 years | 77% |
TUBERCULOSIS.
The following Table shows the notifications of and deaths from Pulmonary Tuberculosis during the last four years:-
TABLE IV
YEAR | NOTIFICATIONS | DEATHS | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Males | Females | Total | Males | Females | Total | |
1940 | 83 | 65 | 148 | 31 | 25 | 56 |
1941 | 68 | 90 | 158 | 48 | 37 | 85 |
1942 | 141 | 93 | 234 | 38 | 28 | 66 |
1943 | 100 | 74 | 174 | 57 | 27 | 84 |
Attention is drawn to the fact that in the year 1942 the incidence
of this disease had shown a definite increase. It will "be seen that this has
no longer been maintained and that the notifications of new cases, both male
and female have decreased, but as could be expected from the previous high
incidence the death rate from this disease still remained high,
I am indebted to Dr, A. S. Hall, the County Tuberculosis Medical Officer,
for the following observations:-
"The position with regard to tuberculosis cannot be regarded
with complacency for although the death roll is not as high as was
feared it might become, yet it by no means approaches the level
which might have been expected if the pre-war decline had continued.
The figures for deaths are interesting for it will be seen
that the increase is almost entirely due to deaths amongst men, the
figure for women being down to the pre-war level. This contrasts
with experience in the last war when the chief rise in mortality was
amongst young women. No explanation of the change can be suggested
at present, but it may be noted that the national figures confirm
the Hendon experience.
Notification figures as opposed to deaths do not reflect
the amount of tuberculosis in the district with any great degree
of accuracy and too much attention should not be paid to their
yearly variation. Mass radiography and the increased interest in
the disease play a great part in swelling the figures."
INFLUENZA.
Influenza, fortunately of a mild type, was prevalent in the latter
months of the year and as difficulty in nursing those cases not admitted to
hospital was anticipated, a scheme was formed in co-operation with the British
Red Cross Society and St, John's Ambulance Brigade, for nursing in the home