London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Woolwich 1908

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Woolwich]

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48
to be well and at work— one at Lowestoft employed in fishing,
others in Canada, Australia, South Africa, &c.
The above table accounts for all patients who left the
sanatorium up to December 31st, 1907. Out of 96 who have
left over one year, 39 are now well and at work, 9 are unwell,
36 have died, and 12 have been lost sight of. Probably the
majority of the 12 are also alive, and at work; all deaths
registered in London, and many of those registered in
the provinces, are communicated to the Medical Officer of
Health of the place of previous residence. Two who fell ill in
Canada were refused admission into the local hospital and returned
to England by the authorities. In one ease at least a
few weeks' treatment would probably have enabled the man to
resume his work, but the local authorities seem very anxious
not to be responsible for emigrants whose health has failed.
85. Sanatorium treatment can nearly always, in cases not
advanced, improve health and lengthen life. In order for
health to be fully re-established and strength maintained, the
cases must be sufficiently early, and suitable conditions of life
and employment found. Unfortunately the latter condition
can seldom be fulfilled, and hence the large number of recurrences
after work has been resumed. Many, too, have
suffered from not being able to find work, or have hurried back
to work before they were fit, for fear of being discharged.
Many are unfit for sanatorium treatment when they first give
up work, owing to having persisted at work too long under the
same fear. Consumption is largely a question of poverty.
86. The result of sending patients for only one month has
been decidedly satisfactory. For many the period seems
sufficient to re-establish their health and enable them to resume