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
East Ham 1938
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for East Ham]
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70
Tuberculosis.
Notifications:
The number of primary notifications during the year il938
was 203 as compared with 264 for 1937. Of the primary notifications
of pulmonary tuberculosis, in 29.05 per cent, tubercle bacilli
were found in the sputum. In other words, 29.05 per cent, of cases
were definitely infectious, and the smaller this number becomes
the better the ultimate outlook for the individual sufferers.
Statistical:
The total number of notified cases on the register of the Clinic
on 31st December, 1938, was 973 (pulmonary and non-pulmonary),
or 7.51 per 1,000 estimated population, as opposed to 969
or 7.39 per 1,000 population in the previous year. Of these 333
(or 34.2 per cent.) were definitely infectious, i.e. cases in which
tubercle bacilli have been found in the sputum at some period of
the illness.
Deaths:
The number of deaths (1933-1938) from tuberculosis is shown below.
| Pulmonary | Non-Pulmonary | Of Cases on the Clinic Register | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1933 | 99 | 16 | 75 |
| ,1934 | 92 | 15 | 80 |
| 1935 | 80 | 16 | 76 |
| 1936 | 97 | 10 | 77 |
| 1937 | 80 | 13 | 84 |
| 1938 | 81 | 8 | 67 |
New Cases:
The following are the comparative figures for the years 1933-1938:—
| 1933 | 1934 | 1935 | 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Cases (and Contacts) | 504 | 510 | 548 | 618 | 697 | 629 |
| Number proved, after complete investigation, to be tuberculous | 33.9% | 36.4% | 35.0% | 29.4% | 28.4% | 23.5% |