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 1952
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for East Ham]
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the interchange of information and discussion of individual problems with
the Medical Officer of Health and the Disablement Resettlement 0fficer.
Our aim is to have regular conferences at which representatives of the
Housing Department, the Children's Officer, the School Medical Service
and the General Practitioner service, should also be present. In this
way a greater degree of understanding of each others' problems and a closer
integration of the forces now deployed against tuberculosis will be achieved
During the period 1.1.52 to 30.9.52, the part-time occupational
therapist employed by the Council carried out the following sessions:-
(a) At the Chest Clinic 71
(b) At the homes of patients 66
No. of attendances at Clinic sessions 773
" " " " patients' homes 427
No statistics are available for the period 1st October to 31st December
owing to the Therapist's absence following an accident.
mass radiography.
The Mass Radiography Unit (no. 6b) again visited East Ham and conducted
a public survey from 20th May to 20th June, 1952. The Unit was
accommodated in the Minor Hall of the Town Hall and a total of 6,912 persons
attended for examination.
The following is an extract from the report by the Unit's Medical Director, Dr. D.J. Lawless, on this survey:-
| Males | Females | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of attendances for miniature X-ray | 3,245 | 3*667 | 6,912 | |
| No. passed as normal on miniature or subsequent large film examination | 3,082 | 3,527 | 6,609 | |
| No. showing some abnormality | 163 | 140 | 303 | |
| Percentage showing some abnormality | 4.8 | 3.9 | 4.5 | |
| Classifications of abnormalities noted | ||||
| Abnormalities of Bony thorax (congenital) | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Chronic bronchitis and emphysema | 38 | 13 | 51 | |
| Bronchiectasis | 4 | - | 4 | |
| Pulmonary fibrosis (non-tuberculous) | 2 | 2 | 4 | |
| Basal fibrosis | 22 | 14 | 36 | |
| Pleural thickening | 8 | 1 | 9 | |
| Intra-thoracic tumours | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Cardiovascular lesions-Congenital | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Cardio-vascular lesions-Acquired | 6 | 10 | 16 | |
| Miscellaneous minor abnormalities | 16 | 21 | 37 | |
| Pulmonary Tuberculosis-all types | 63 | 78 | 141 | |
| Totals: | 163 | 140 | 303 | |
| The tuberculous lesions noted are further analysed as follows:- | ||||
| Tuberculous lesions | ||||
| Males | Females | Total | ||
| Inactive Tuberculosis | Primary | 20 | 34 | 54 |
| Post-Primary | 38 | 35 | 73 | |
| Totals | 58 | 59 | 127 | |
| Active Tuberculosis | Primary | - | - | - |
| Post-Primary | 5 | 9 | 14 | |
| Totals | 5 | 9 | 14 | |