London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Kingston upon Thames 1913

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kingston-upon-Thames]

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35
TUBERCULOSIS.
The accompanying Tables give fairly full particulars of
the cases of Tuberculosis notified during 1913, and of 76
other cases carried forward from 1912. Housing and
employment has been grouped together for convenience. In
a town with special trades it would be convenient to separate
the cases under these headings, but where the employments
are so varied it would mean a detailed account of almost
every case.
The returns are necessarily somewhat incomplete as I
have only a limited knowledge of the cases, and in some
instances no knowledge at all. Amongst the well-to-do I am
often asked not to visit, and in such cases the medical
attendant gives such advice as I might be able to offer.
Other cases are only slightly affected and being at work are
difficult to find, whilst others are only notified from an
institution outside the Borough. The cases in which noparticulars
could be obtained number only 20 out of 250.
There were 10 deaths of persons not notified. Probably the
diagnosis was only made after death.
One or two special cases are of general interest. A
young wife was attacked by the disease just as the husband
showed signs of recovery. Both are doing well. A patient
with slight symptoms of Tubercle died of Cancer. In one
family three young persons have died on reaching adolesence.
In another family three young women have, one after the
other, been sent to a Sanatorium and have returned with the
disease arrested, and, with care in management of life, cured.
A large number of young children have come under
notice and nine of these have been treated in the Infirmary,
nine at various Hospitals, three have been sent to Sanatoria
(privately). One has had Tuberculin treatment, and ten are