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
Lewisham 1946
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lewisham Borough]
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Section "B" Continued
LABORATORY FACILITIES
The bacteriological work of the Council is carried out under contract by St. John's Hospital, Lewisham. Routine examinations of throat and nasal swabs, sputum and blood specimens, etc., were submitted, and the following is a brief summary of the work undertaken:-
| Positive | Negative | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diphtheria | 10 | 898 | 908 |
| Tuberculosis | 199 | 1014 | 1213 |
| Typhoid | 4 | 4 | |
| Miscellaneous | 1 | 35 | 36 |
| Totals | 210 | 1951 | 2161 |
VACCINATION
The Annual Return made by the vaccination officer to the
Registrar General respecting the vaccination of children whose births
were registered in the Borough during the year ended 31st December
1945 shews that of the 2088 births so registered 1113 or 53,3 percent
were successfully vaccinated.
PUBLIC MORTUARY AND CORONER'S COURT
The number of bodies taken to the Council's Public Mortuary
during the year was 440. Of this number 210 were received from
hospitals. Inquests were held in 131 cases.
RODENT CONTROL
At the instigation of the Ministry of Food a special rodent
control scheme for the Borough was . inaugurated on 5 July 1946.
8 investigators and 12 operatives were engaged.
From the start of the scheme until the end of the year 53,861
visits were made, which included 228 visits to business premises.
Treatments were given at 2558 premises and it is estimated that
13,500 rats were killed.
In addition gassing and baiting of thetrivers Pool, Quaggy
and Ravensbourne was carried out ana an estimated 1512 rats
destroyed.
85 business premises were treated, on request, at the owners'
expense and 75 owners preferred to carry out treatments themselves.
TUBERCULOSIS DISPENSARY SERVICE
The total number of persons examined at the Council's Tuberculosis
Dispensary was 7996. Of this number 3229 were new cases and 1148
were contacts.
The number of definite cases of tuberculosis on the dispensary
register at the beginning of the year was 1,886 ana 1,942 at the
end of the year.
The Council's tuberculosis health visitors paid 3671 visits to
the homes of patients during the year.
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