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 1951
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kingston-upon-Thames]
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43
Food Poisoning.
A total of five cases of food poisoning was notified
during 1951 compared with one case in 1950. In two of the
cases, which were not connected with each other in any way,
salmonella organisms were isolated from specimens of faeces.
This type of organism is a common food poisoning agent, but
the fullest enquiries did not reveal evidence implicating any
particular food.
The three remaining cases were in one household; here
again no particular food could be traced as the source of
infection, and all the laboratory tests undertaken on specimens
of faeces from the patients were negative of any organism that
could have caused the illnesses.
Thus, although five cases were notified, it was not
possible to verify a food as the cause.
Tuberculosis..
Cases of tuberculosis are dealt with by the South Western
Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board, and by the Surrey County
Council. Good liaison exists between your Medical Officer
and the Chest physician, and his staff, and with the Surrey
County Council. Each case notified is visited by an officer
of the Public Health Department, and all contacts are advised
to consult the Chest Physician. The efficiency of notification
is good and there have been no cases of wilful neglect or refusal
to notify.
The following table shows comparative figures of notified cases and deaths for the years 1941 - 1951 (inclusive)
| Year | Cases Notified | Deaths | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Respiratory | Non Respiratory | Total | Respiratory | Non Respiratory | Total | |
| 1941 | 44 | 9 | 53 | 19 | 3 | 22 |
| 1942 | 67 | 11 | 78 | 22 | 2 | 24 |
| 1943 | 63 | 8 | 71 | 25 | 1 | 26 |
| 1944 | 56 | 11 | 67 | 19 | 4 | 23 |
| 1945 | 41 | 12 | 53 | 19 | 7 | 26 |
| 1946 | 41 | 9 | 50 | 10 | 3 | 13 |
| 1947 | 43 | 3 | 46 | 17 | 4 | 21 |
| 1948 | 55 | 3 | 58 | 22 | 2 | 24 |
| 1949 | 40 | 6 | 46 | 10 | 1 | 11 |
| 1950 | 37 | 11 | 48 | 12 | - | 12 |
| 1951 | 38 | 9 | 47 | 12 | 1 | 13 |
(Note - An analysis of the total notified cases during
1950 in age groups is shown on the following page).
The ratio of non-notified cases to total deaths for 1951
and the preceding four years is as follows
1947 1948 1949 1950 1951
1; 7 1: 24 1: 11 1: 6 1: 3
The Regional Hospital Board Mass Radiography Unit visited
Kingston during the year and was attended by 5,843 persons.
A total of 18 cases of active pulmonary tuberculosis and 183 cases
of inactive pulmonary tuberculosis were discovered, together with
193 non-tuberculous abnormalities. Since the mass radiography
service is available to all the above figures do not all necessarily
relate to Kingston residents, and no increase in the number of
cases notified during 1951, as compared with 1950, occurred.