London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Southall 1951

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Southall]

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Other Forms of Tuberculosis
The number of new cases notified during the year was 6.
Of the total notifications 3 were received from Medical Practitioners ; 45 from the
Uxbridge Chest Clinic; 14 from General Hospitals; 18 from Special Hospitals.
Deaths from Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis of the respiratory system, 15; other forms, nil.
For details of new cases notified and deaths in 1950, see Appendix, Table XI, and
for the occupations of new cases see Appendix, Table XII.
Public Health {Prevention of Tuberculosis) Regulations, 1925.
Public Health Act, 1936, Section 172.
Action under these powers was not necessary during the year.
The number of new notifications declined from 84 in 1950 to 80 in 1951. The number
of deaths from tuberculosis, i.e. 15, was the same as the number recorded in 1950. Of the
15 deaths, four had not been previously notified as cases of tuberculosis. It appears, therefore,
that there are still cases of tuberculosis who seek treatment or are discovered too late for
medical skill to be effective in saving their lives; in view of the success resulting from
treatment of early cases, this is a tragic and unnecessary state of affairs.
The analysis of the housing particulars of 52 of the 80 cases of tuberculosis notified
in 1951 shows that in one case only were the premises in poor condition. Statutory overcrowding
was not confirmed in the homes of these new cases. Of the 28 cases remaining,
16 were permanent residents of an institution at the time of the development of the disease
or were inward transfers from other districts, and the other 13 could not be followed-up
because of removal from the district or some similar reason. In one house there were two
cases of tuberculosis, in one house three, and in one house four. Apart from these there
were no multiple notifications from any single dwelling.
The Physician of the Uxbridge Chest Clinic supplied the information that B.C.G.
vaccination during 1951 was carried out on 11 people of Southall. Those who received
the treatment were case contacts previously tested for their reaction, found to be sensitive
to tuberculosis germs, and, therefore, more readily liable to be infected.
Tests were carried out also on groups of school leavers and hospital nurses within the
Borough; it was found that not one of these was sensitive and, therefore, no B.C.G.
vaccination was required for them.
Two special groups were examined by Mass X-Ray during the year. One was of the
employees of the North Thames Gas Board, a group not previously examined, and the
number examined from this group was 416 (408 men and 8 women). The other examination
was on the children and staff at one of the Southall Schools because tuberculosis had been
discovered in a member of the staff. The number examined was 318.
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