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
Merton 1972
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Merton]
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The only significant group of people who suffered s.typhimurium
food poisoning were a group of seven who had a dinner out in London.
They were kept under surveillance until clear.
In addition, 29 people were investigated, 15 of whom were suspected
cases of food poisoning, but all gave negative results.
TUBERCULOSIS
Chest Clinics
The two chest clinics at Cumberland Hospital have now been
combined, with Dr. E. Sanders as the chest physician.
At this clinic the Tuberculosis Health Visitors assist the Chest
Physician and help and advise the patients.
At the end of the year the case load of the tuberculosis health
visitor was as follows:—
Cases of tuberculosis 382
Cases of lung cancer 56
Other chest cases (bronchitis, bronchiectasis,
etc.) 62
The new cases examined at the Chest Clinics in 1972 are analysed in the table below:—
| Respiralory | Non-Respiratory | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M | F | M | F | ||
| Diagnosed Tuberculous | 4 | 1 | — | - | 5 |
| Non Tuberculous | 332 | 194 | — | — | 526 |
Domiciliary Visiting
Home visiting continues to be an important part of the work of
tuberculosis health visitors. The number of tuberculosis households
visited during the year was 175.
Details of domiciliary visiting by health visitors are given below:
Visits in connection with old cases 449
Visits in connection with new cases 32
Visits in connection with contacts 60
Total 541
B.C.G. Vaccination
During the year B.C.G. inoculation of school children in the
twelve and thirteen year old age group was carried out:—
Number of children skin tested 1,947
Number found negative 1,722
Number vaccinated with B.C.G. 1,713
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