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 1938
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lambeth Borough]
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The proportion of specimens found to be positive out of all those submitted was 13.8 per cent. (in the previous year, 135 per cent).
| Nature of Specimen | Result of Examination | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Negative | Positive | ||
| Swabs from nose and throat of suspected cases or carriers of diphtheria | 1,898 | 224 | 2,122 |
| Sputa from cases suspected of or suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis | 679 | 120 | 799 |
| Blood for Widal reaction and/or examination for presence of— | |||
| B. Typhosus | 11 | 3 | 14 |
| B. Paratyphosus A, B, and C | |||
| B. Abortus | |||
| Miscellaneous | 58 | 79 | 137 |
| Totals | 2,646 | 426 | 3,072 |
During 1938, 14 vials of antitoxin were distributed free of cost
under the Antitoxin Order, 1910.
Disinfecting Department, 1938.
Details of work done in connexion 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 (1,762), chicken-pox (1,107), cancer (43),
whooping cough (219), mumps (178), and others (scabies, ringworm,
etc.), not classified (1,307); 869 verminous houses (1,312 rooms)
and verminous articles, bedding (2,135) and clothing (4,596), were
also treated.