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 1954
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Leyton]
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125
In my Annual Report for 1953 I outlined additional publicity undertaken
by exhibitions and film shows on home safety shown at the different clinics.
Attention was then drawn to the large number of home accidents primarily
caused by carelessness or ignorance, to the need for education of the general
public, and to the necessity for collaboration between the health, fire and
education departments of local authorities.
A special report was submitted showing the extent of the problem, the
commonest kind of accidents in the home, the commonest causes of accidents
and the precautions that should be taken.
In spite of the awful toll of road deaths and accidents, there are roughly
four times as many accidents in the home.
During recent years there has been an alarming increase in the number
of children poisoned by swallowing drugs left within their reach, and it is
unfortunate that so many such drugs and tablets are in appearance so attractive
to young children.
Mass Radiography.
Submitted hereunder in statistical form is the result of the survey undertaken by Mass Radiography Unit 6.B in the Borough in May, 1954.
| Males | Females | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of attendances for miniature X-Ray | 4,566 | 5,112 | 9,678 |
| Number passed as normal on miniature film or subsequent large film examination | 4,438 | 4,998 | 9,436 |
| Number showing some abnormality ... | 128 | 114 | 242 |
| Percentage showing some abnormality | 2.80 | 2.22 | 2.50 |
| Classification of abnormalities noted— | |||
| Congenital abnormality of bony thorax | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| Chronic bronchitis and emphysema | 18 | 13 | 31 |
| Pneumonia, lobar | — | 1 | 1 |
| Broncho-pneumonia | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Bronchiectasis | 9 | 5 | 14 |
| Pulmonary fibrosis | 8 | 7 | 15 |
| Pleural thickening | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Intra-thoracic tumours | 8 | — | 8 |
| Congenital cardio-vascular lesions | 1 | — | 1 |
| Acquired cardio-vascular lesions | 5 | 13 | 18 |
| Miscellaneous | 9 | 6 | 15 |
| Failed to attend for large film examination | 7 | 8 | 15 |
| Pulmonary tuberculosis, all types | 56 | 55 | 111 |
| Total | 128 | 114 | 242 |
| Tuberculosis lesions. | |||
| Inactive tuberculosis— Primary | 14 | 18 | 32 |
| Post-Primary | 34 | 31 | 65 |
| Total | 48 | 49 | 97 |
| Active tuberculosis— | |||
| Primary | — | 1 | 1 |
| Post-Primary | 8 | 5 | 13 |
| Total | 8 | 6 | 14 |
Note: The eight intra-thoracic tumours discovered were all bronchial carcinomata.
Five were operable, and three unfortunately not so.