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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
Willesden 1939
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Willesden]
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18
APPENDICES.
APPENDIX A.
10th January, 1939.
PROVISION OF HOUSES FOR TUBERCULOUS PERSONS.
Memorandum by the Medical Officer of Health on the letter of the Middlesex
County Council dated 24th November, 1938.
Tuberculosis in Willesden.
The following table shows the number of cases of tuberculosis notified in Willesden during the past 10 years and the death rate per thousand of the population in each of these years from respiratory tuberculosis:—
| Year. | Cases Notified. | Death Rate of Respiratory Tuberculosis per 1,000 Population. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Respiratory. | Non-Respiratory. | ||
| 1928 | 200 | 50 | .58 |
| 1929 | 254 | 53 | .89 |
| 1930 | 258 | 73 | .69 |
| 1931 | 262 | 72 | .75 |
| 1932 | 249 | 62 | .67 |
| 1933 | 247 | 47 | .65 |
| 1934 | 253 | 64 | .66 |
| 1935 | 247 | 49 | .57 |
| 1936 | 240 | 53 | .58 |
| 1937 | 246 | 62 | .55 |
Fatality of Tuberculosis.
Pulmonary tuberculosis is an extremely infectious and deadly disease. In Lancashire, the
Central Tuberculosis Officer for the County conducted an enquiry into what became of such cases
over a period of 5 years from notification. His results showed that of the net number (1,097) of
definite pulmonary cases (removals from area excluded), 63.1 per cent. died from tuberculosis within
the 5 years (39.7 per cent. dying in the first year, 10.1 per cent. in the second year, 5.8 per cent. in
the third, 3.6 per cent. in the fourth and 3.9 per cent. in the fifth).
In the Annual Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Middlesex it is stated that
49.9 per cent. of cases of pulmonary tuberculosis were dead at the expiry of eleven years.
In a study of mortality among individuals with tuberculosis in New York State, published
by the Milbank Memorial Fund in July, 1938, it is stated that active pulmonary tuberculosis has
an exceedingly high fatality rate and that 4 per cent. to 5 per cent. per annum of arrested cases of
pulmonary tuberculosis break down.
Tuberculosis Authorities in Willesden.
The Willesden Borough Council is primarily the authority in Willesden for the prevention
of tuberculosis. The Middlesex County Council is primarily the authority in Willesden for the
treatment of tuberculosis.
Proposals of the Middlesex County Council.
The first proposal of the Middlesex County Council is:—
(a) To acquire land in the County and to erect thereon houses for persons suffering from
tuberculosis.
It is not quite clear whether this means that the houses to be erected will merely be a group
of houses for tuberculous people who will have to find work in the neighbourhood, or a village settlement
where suitable work is provided for arrested cases.