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
Stepney 1928
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Stepney]
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Tuberculosis Dispensaries.
The figures setting out the statement of the work of the three Tuberculosis
Dispensaries will be found in the following pages.
There is a gradual diminution in the number of patients suffering from
active tuberculosis, which has been going on for some years. In the light
of this satisfactory state of affairs, it is probable that the decrease will
continue.
This is particularly noticeable with respect to patients suffering from
advanced disease. The number of advanced cases examined now is
considerably less than in former years.
With respect to the Open Air School at the back of 35, Stepney Green,
it is satisfactory to note that the building which was obstructing the light and
and air and also taking up much wanted space has now been removed.
X-ray Reports.
The Council's arrangement with the London Hospital for X-ray reports,
has proved distinctly satisfactory. It is possible for the Tuberculosis Officers
to go to the London Hospital and to see their own cases X-rayed.
War Pensioners.
The Table below shows that the number of war pensioners has decreased
not as much as was anticipated in the last report.
New cases of Tuberculosis coming to the knowledge of the Medical Officer of Health or Chief (Administrative) Tuberculosis Officer during the period from the 1st January, 1928, to the 29th December, 1928, otherwise than by notification on Form A or Form B under the Public Health (Tuberculosis) Regulations, 1912.*
| Age periods | 0 to 1 | 1 to 5 | 5 to 10 | 10 to 15 | 15 to 20 | 20 to 25 | 25 to 35 | 35 to 45 | 45 to 55 | 55 to 65 | 65 and upwards | Total Cases. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pulmonary: Males | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 4 | — | 15 |
| „ Females | — | 1 | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 3 | — | - | 1 | 8 |
| Non-Pulmonary: Males | 1 | 3 | — | 1 | 2 | - | — | 1 | - | — | 1 | 9 |
| „ „ Females | — | 3 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 3 |
Institutional Treatment.
It has been possible to obtain sanatorium treatment for many patients,
but we are still faced with the old difficulty of dealing with the medium
and advanced cases, so that they may have the best available treatment and
at the same time be no danger to others. A few patients have been sent to
Papworth Colony in Cambridgeshire, but the main difficulty is that patients
require to be both physically and mentally adaptable to colonization.
The source or sources from which information as to the above-mentioned cases was obtained is stated below:—
| Source of Information. | No. of Cases. | |
|---|---|---|
| Pulmonary. | Non-Pulmonary. | |
| Death Returns (i.e., from local Registrars, or transferable deaths from Registrar General) | 14 | 9 |
| ''Transfers" from other areas (other than transferable deaths) | 9 | 3 |
| Forms C & D (in respect of cases not previously known to the M.O.H.) | - | - |
| Other Sources, e.g., posthumous notifications | - | - |