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 1948
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lewisham Borough]
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19
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 summary of the work undertaken :—
| Positive | Negative | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diphtheria | 7 | 817 | 824 |
| Tuberculosis | 26S | 1402 | 1667 |
| Typhoid | — | 9 | 9 |
| Dysentery | 4 | 24 | 28 |
| Foodstuffs | 1 | 10 | 11 |
| Food poisoning | — | 13 | 13 |
| Scarlet fever | 28 | 25 | 53 |
| Others | 1 | 10 | 11 |
| TOTALS | 306 | 2310 | 2616 |
| Month | Bodies received from hospitals | Others | Post mortem exams. | Inquests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 19 | 23 | 42 | 8 |
| February | 17 | 27 | 44 | 6 |
| March | 21 | 28 | 49 | 11 |
| April | 15 | 9 | 24 | 10 |
| May | 19 | 11 | 30 | 5 |
| June | 11 | 20 | 31 | 5 |
| July | 17 | 23 | 40 | 10 |
| August | 15 | 25 | 40 | 7 |
| September | 7 | 17 | 24 | 4 |
| October | 12 | 14 | 26 | 6 |
| November | 13 | 29 | 42 | 13 |
| December | 32 | 33 | 65 | 10 |
| TOTALS | 198 | 259 | 457 | 95 |
Vaccination
No return was required by the Registrar-General in respect ofthe
period January 1 to July 4, 1948.
Public Mortuary and Coroner's Court
The premises are situated in Ladywell Road and comprise a
Court Room, Witness Room, Coroner's Office, Caretaker's apartments
and Mortuary.
The number of bodies taken to the mortuary during the year was
457. Of this number 198 were received from hospitals. Inquests were
held in 95 cases.
Details are shewn in the following table :—