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
Harrow 1935
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Harrow]
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their transfer to the district. In another 13 cases the disease was
diagnosed within six months of their removal, in all except one
of these cases the period being within three months. These are
assumed to have contracted the disease before transfer, making a
total of 39 out of 84 who came to the district already suffering
from pulmonary tuberculosis. Similarly of 83 females 27 definitely
had it before transfer and 16 were notified within six months (14
within three months) of transfer, making a total of 43 out of 83.
Even if it was assumed that those patients about whom no information
is obtainable had contracted the disease locally, the notifications
are reduced from 180 to 98, giving a rate per thousand of 0.7
compared with a national rate of 1.2.
The following table summarises the position with regard to the period of residence of those who contracted the disease locally:—
| Period of residence | 6-12 months | 1-2 years | 2-3 years | 3-4 years | 4-5 years | 5-10 years | 10-15 years | 15-20 years | Over 20 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Males | 4 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 3 | — | 5 |
| Females | 6 | 3 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
The following table gives the grouping of the ages of the patients at the time of notification in the case of those who contracted the disease locally, there being none under 5 years of age or over 65.
| 5-14 years | 15-24 years | 25-34 years | 35-4 years | 45-54 years | 55-64 years | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Males | 4 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 4 | 3 |
| Females | 5 | 7 | 11 | 7 | 5 | - |
A family history of tubercular disease was very rarely obtained
in the case of the males, in fact only in three cases, one of which
was in the 5 to 14 age group. It was found more frequently
amongst the females, being obtained in 13 out of 35 cases. The
group giving the largest incidence was the 5 to 14 group, in
which four out of the five cases gave this history.
Of 35 males who at the time of onset of illness were over 15
years of age, 16 were clerks and three printers. Of 22 females of
over 25, practically all were married women who were engaged
in no outside employment. Of those between the ages of 15 to
24, three were shop assistants.
28 cases (15 male and 13 female) were notified as suffering from
non-pulmonary disease. In addition nine cases (six male and
three female) were brought to notice other than by formal notification.
Of the 36 cases in respect of which information is available,
18 transferred here while suffering from the disease while another
three were notified within three months of their coming to reside
in the district.
In England and Wales for 1934 the rate of notifications for
non-pulmonary tuberculosis was 0.4 per thousand. The 37 cases
learned of during the year give a rate of 0.26 per thousand