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

Battersea 1920

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Battersea Borough]

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43
There were 77 cases of influenzal pneumonia notified
during the year, compared with 131 in 1919. Twenty-two were
notified in the first quarter, 35 in the second, and 3 and 17 in
the third and fourth quarters respectively.
The Public Health (Influenza) Regulations, 1918, and
the Public Health (Influenza) Regulations (No. 2), 1918, which
came into force on November 25th, 1918, were rescinded by
order of the Local Government Board on May 6th, 1919.
Bacteriological Examinations.

Table: During the year 1920, 1,305 bacteriological examinations of specimens sent in by medical practitioners practising in the Borough of Battersea have been made at the Clinical Research Association Laboratories at a cost of £163 14s. 1d., particulars of which are set out in the following table:—

During the year 1920, 1,305 bacteriological examinations of specimens sent in by medical practitioners practising in the Borough of Battersea have been made at the Clinical Research Association Laboratories at a cost of £163 14s. 1d., particulars of which are set out in the following table:—

Suspected disease.Positive Results.Negative Results.Total.
Diphtheria2418081044
Enteric fever31518
Tuberculosis44199243
Total28810171805

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Rabies.
There were no cases of rabies reported during the year.
Anthrax.
No case was notified during 1920. Information was, however,
received from H.M. Medical Inspector of Factories that
a man employed in the Goods Depot of the London and South
Western Railway at Nine Elms Lane was suffering from this
disease. The case was notified to the Medical Officer of
Health for Lambeth, the man being resident in that Borough.
On enquiry being made, it was found that the man, in
the course of his employment, handled foreign skins and hides,
and there would appear to be little doubt that the disease was
contracted while engaged at his occupation.
I am informed that positive evidence of the nature of the
infection was found on bacteriological examination. The man
ultimately recovered.
I visited the depot and suggested additional precautions
to those already carried out, particularly the provision of better
facilities for the cleansing and disinfection of the hands of
those engaged in this work. The company agreed to provide
immediately additional ablutionary facilities, with a constant
supply of hot water, which are now available for the use of
the men employed at this depot.