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
Kingston upon Thames 1947
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kingston-upon-Thames]
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57
Tuberculosis.
Cases of tuberculosis are dealt with from the treatment
point of view by the Surrey County Council. Good
liaison exists between your Medical Officer and Tuberculosis
Officer. Each case notified is visited by an officer of the
Public Health Department, and all contacts are advised to consult
the County Tuberculosis Officer. The efficiency of
notification is good and there have been no cases of wilful
neglect or refusal to notify.
The following table shows comparetive figures of notified cases and deaths for the years 1943–1947 (inclusive):–
| Year | Cases notified | Deaths | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Respiratory | Nonrespiratory | Respiratory | Nonrespiratory | |
| 1943 | 63 | 8 | 25 | 1 |
| 1944 | 56 | 11 | 19 | 4 |
| 1945 | 41 | 12 | 19 | 7 |
| 1946 | 41 | 9 | 10 | 3 |
| 1947 | 43 | 3 | 17 | 4 |
Note - An analysis of the total notified cases in age
groups is shown on the following page.)
The ratio of non-notified to total deaths is as
follows:–
1943 1944 1945 1946 1947
1:8 1:121: 5 1:3 1:7
During 1947 no action became necessary under the
Public Health (Prevention of Tuberculosis) Regulations, 1925,
or Section 172 of the Public Health act, 1936.
Disinfection of premises is carried out in all cases
of death, or when the patients are admitted to hospital or
sanatoria.
Very close contact is maintained with the Kingston
and District Tuberculosis Care Committee, of which body the
Medical Officer of Health is Chairman. Considerable assistance
has been given to patients, and there is no doubt that the
Care Committee is fulfilling its proper function of helping
towards the rehabilitation of patients.