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
Leyton 1933
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Leyton]
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Group III (423 Cases). Tonsils Enlarged—Third Degree.
Table III.
| No. of Cases. | Group III | 423 Cases | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sub-group | (A) | (B) | (C) | (D) | |
| 246 | 90 | 62 | 25 | ||
| Initial Recommendation. | |||||
| Observation | 21 | 4 | 3 | — | |
| Operation | 225 | 86 | 59 | 25 | |
| Performed | 123 | 45 | 32 | 20 | |
| Improved | 121 (98%) | 43 (95.5%) | 28 (81.8%) | 20 (100%) | |
| Stationary | 2 (2%) | 1 (2.25%) | 4 (12.2%) | 0 — | |
| Worse | 0 — | 1 (2.25%) | 0 — | 0 — | |
| Not performed | 102 | 41 | 27 | 5 | |
| Improved | 47 (46%) | 14 (34.1%) | 11 (40.8%) | 0 — | |
| Stationary | 29 (28%) | 16 (38.9%) | 13 (48.1%) | 3 (60%) | |
| Worse | 26 (26%) | 11 (27%) | 3 (11.1%) | 2 (40%) | |
| Subsequent Recommendation. | |||||
| Observation | 10 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Improved | 8 (80%) | 1 (100%) | 1 (100%) | 0 — | |
| Stationary | 2 (20%) | 0 — | 0 — | 0 - | |
| Worse | 0 — | 0 — | 0 — | 0 — | |
| Operation | 11 | 3 | 2 | — | |
| Performed | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Improved | 4 (100%) | 0 — | 0 — | 0 — | |
| Stationary | 0 — | 0 — | 0 — | 0 — | |
| Worse | 0 — | 0 — | 0 — | 0 — | |
| Not performed | 7 | 3 | 2 | — | |
| Improved | 2 (29%) | 1 (33%) | 0 — | 0 — | |
| Stationary | 0 — | 0 - | 2 (100%) | 0 — | |
| Worse | 5 (71%) | 2 (67%) | 0 - | 0 — | |
Sub-group A (246 Cases).
Only tonsils defective.
Observation Cases.—There were only 21 such cases, and 52
per cent, of these were recommended operation subsequently. Of
those continuing under observation, 80 per cent, improved and
20 per cent, remained stationary.
Operation Cases.—Of those operated on, 99 per cent, improved.
Of those not operated on after the initial recommendation, 46 per
cent, improved; whereas in the small group recommended operation
on a subsequent examination, only 28.6 per cent, improved.
In this group of cases observation for six months should be the
rule, for quite a large percentage clear up without operation. It
has been noticed that these excessively enlarged tonsils often "clear