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
Hackney 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hackney]
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150
Examination of Home Contacts.—The number of persons living
in contact with the 374 cases of tuberculosis which came to notice
for the first time during the year was 848 (2.2 contacts per patient).
Of this number of contacts, 449, or 52.9 per cent., were examined
either at the Tuberculosis Dispensaries or by their own doctors.
The diagnoses made at the examination of the 429 contacts examined at the Tuberculosis Dispensaries during the year were:—
| Diagnosis. | Dispensary at | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan Hospital. | London Chest Hospital. | Totals. | |
| Pulmonary Tuberculosis | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| Non-pulmonary Tuberculosis | •. | . | .. |
| Non-tuberculous | 222 | 199 | 421 |
| Doubtful | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Totals | 227 | 202 | 429 |
Bacteriological Examinations- Nine hundred and sixty-one specimens of sputum were examined at the Tuberculosis Dispensaries during the year with the following results:—
| Result of Examination | Metropolitan Hospital. | London Chest Hospital. | Totals. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tubercle Bacilli Present | 116 | 73 | 189 |
| Tubercle Bacilli Absent | 465 | 307 | 772 |
| Totals | 581 | 380 | 961 |
In addition, 359 examinations of specimens of sputum were carried out by the Council's Bacteriologists during the year, with the following results:—
| Tubercle bacilli present | 35 |
| Tubercle bacilli absent | 324 |
| Total | 359 |
The following are additional details relating to the work of
the Tuberculosis Dispensaries during the year:—