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
West Ham 1951
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for West Ham]
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It is in part, a result of the work of the Tuberculosis Visitors in seeking out contacts of known cases and persuading them to attend for examination as illustrated by the table given below:-
| Year | New Contacts Examined at Chest Clinic | Diagnosed as Respiratory Tuberculosis |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 430 | 5 |
| 1951 | 643 | 13 |
Mass Radiography has also played its part not only by the discovery of unsuspected
cases, but also by bringing to the attention of the general public the need for examination
before the onset of serious symptoms.
Deaths from tuberculosis have declined during the year having fallen from 74 in 1950
to 58 in 1951. The accompanying diagram illustrates the trend of the tuberculosis deathrate
over the past 20 years. Apart from the war years it will be seen that the rate has
consistently fallen during this period. A number of factors have contributed to this. It
is probable that the natural resistance of the population is increasing. Earlier diagnosis
and improved methods of treatment have had their effect and the acceleration of the decline
in the post war years may be a result of the introduction of new methods of treatment by
means of drugs and antibiotics. Certainly improvement in social conditions is a factor of
considerable importance, both in increasing the resistance of the individual to infection
and in reducing the spread of infection in the population. Anything which can be done to
improve these conditions further by the provision of better housing and particularly by
the rehousing of tuberculous families is likely to result in an even greater decrease in
deaths from tuberculosis.
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