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
Lambeth 1936
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lambeth Borough]
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the use of living animals. All examinations of samples submitted
are carried out free of charge and the necessary outfits for taking
the specimens are also supplied free on demand as required.
Among the miscellaneous samples are specimens of various
body fluids, pathogenic discharges, etc., as well as samples of
food suspected of containing various food poisoning organisms.
The proportion of specimens found to be positive out of all those submitted was 12.6 per cent. (in the previous year, 12.0 per cent).
| Nature of Specimen | Result of Examination | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Negative | Positive | ||
| Swabs from nose and throat of suspected cases or carriers of diphtheria | 1,684 | 161 | 1,845 |
| Sputa from cases suspected of or suffering from pulmonary tuber-culosis | 728 | 124 | 852 |
| Blood for Widal reaction and/or examination for presence of— B. Typhosus B. Paratyphosus A, B, and C B. Abortus | 5 | 3 | 8 |
| Miscellaneous | 44 | 24 | 68 |
| Totals | 2,461 | 312 | 2,773 |
During 1936, 23 vials of antitoxin were distributed free of cost
under the Antitoxin Order, 1910.
Disinfecting Department, 1936.
Details of work done in connection with the Disinfecting
Department are subjoined. In addition to the cases of infectious
diseases dealt with, notified compulsorily by medical men, the
following diseases were reported by parents, school teachers and
others, viz. : measles (1,470), chicken-pox (708), cancer (51),
whooping cough (559), mumps (365), and others (scabies, ringworm,
etc.), not classified (1,069) ; 925 verminous houses (1,386 rooms)
and verminous articles, bedding (1,904), and clothing (3,029), were
also treated.