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
Carshalton 1955
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Carshalton]
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Mass X-Ray
The following details of the medical findings are supplied by courtesy of the Medical Director of the Unit.
| The Assembly Hall | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total number X-Rayed | 735 | 736 | 1,471 |
| Pulmonary Tuberculosis, Active | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| „ „ Inactive | 37 | 35 | 72 |
| Non-tuberculous abnormalities | 51 | 12 | 63 |
| Cancer of lung | 1 | — | 1 |
| Not yet diagnosed (this case is a non-tuberculous condition) | 1 | - | 1 |
| Central Methodist Hall | |||
| Total number X-Rayed | 590 | 806 | 1,396 |
| Pulmonary Tuberculosis, Active | - | 2 | 2 |
| „ „ Inactive | 40 | 33 | 73 |
| Non-tuberculous abnormalities | 26 | 17 | 43 |
| Cancer of lung | 1 | — | 1 |
| Not yet diagnosed | 1 | — | 1 |
Carshalton T.B. Care Committee
This voluntary Committee was set up under the sgis of the County
Council in 1935 to help in meeting the social and economic needs of tuberculous
patients and their families. In a disease where the length of incapacity
is measured in months and years, these aspects of the problem are as
important if not more so than the work of the medical and curative services.
The help afforded by the Committee is of inestimable value in relieving
domestic anxiety and sustaining morale without which no tuberculous
patient can fully benefit from the comprehensive and protracted treatment
which is available under the statutory scheme. The diversity of ways in
which the voluntary funds are expended in providing assistance is indicated
by the following extracts from the Annual Report of the Care Committee
for 1955.
Provision of clothing, beds and bedding.
Provision of handicraft materials for patients on bed-rest.
Grants for insurance premiums, wireless and television licences, garage rent,
pocket money while in hospital, fares to enable relatives to visit in hospital,
sewing machine repairs, bicycles, removal expenses, loans to establish business.
Loans—typewriters for instruction and practice, deck-chairs, back-rests, bed
tables, etc.
Holidays—grants up to 12 guineas to enable families to enjoy holidays. Twentythree
children of T.B. families sent to holiday camps.
The Committee members and officers are all voluntary workers and
the administrative expenses including the cost of Christmas seals, the sale
of which constitutes the main source of income, represents between 6 % and
7% of the annual disbursements, which in 1955 amounted to £650.
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