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 1939
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hackney]
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30
TUBERCULOSIS.
The number of cases of tuberculosis notified for the first time
during the year was 247—213 pulmonary and 34 non-pulmonary, as
compared with 221 pulmonary and 45 non-pulmonary cases notified
during the year 1938. The deaths from this disease totalled 124—
109 pulmonary and 15 non-pulmonary.
New patients attending at the two Tuberculosis Dispensaries
numbered 819, of which number 245 were found to be suffering from
pulmonary tuberculosis and 46 from non-pulmonary tuberculosis. In
addition, 312 contacts of notified cases were examined and 7 were
found to be suffering from tuberculosis.
Ninety-eight patients received a total of 1,121 artificial pneumothorax
refills at an expense to the Council of £469 17s. 6d. Four
patients received Finsen and arc light treatment for lupus, the cost
to the Council of the 39 treatments being £11 8s.
Beds and bedding were loaned to 14 patients during the year.
The loan of garden shelters to three patients was continued.
DISINFECTION AND DISINFESTATION.
The following is a summary of the work carried out by the disinfection staff during the year :—
| (a) after the occurrence of infectious and contagious diseases: | |
| Number of rooms disinfected | 1,934 |
| Number of articles of bedding and clothing disinfected or destroyed | 30,002 |
| Number of Public Library and other books disinfected | 3,286 |
| Number of persons accommodated in the isolation shelters | — |
| (b) for the destruction of vermin: | |
| Number of rooms fumigated | 1,413 |
| Number of beds, mattresses, etc., cleansed or destroyed | 12,813 |
In addition, 203 van-loads of furniture belonging to 420
families have been treated in the cyanide gas chambers at the
Disinfecting Station. Much of this work was done at the request
of the Housing Department in order to prevent the importation of
vermin into the Council's dwellings.