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at Park Hospital instead of to Dr. Bousfield's laboratory at 134,
Denmark Hill, S.E.5. This service is provided by the Public Health
Laboratory Service which is directed by the Medical Research Council,
and apart from examinations of nose and throat swabs, sputum, faeces,
urine, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, exudates, swabs from situations other
than the nose and throat, washings of infected cavities, hair and scales
for ringworm, biopsy material for trichina larvae and so on, provision
is also made for the examination of water, shellfish, sewage, milk,
icecream, retail food and certain other materials.
Specimens from general practitioners were in the main sent to
the Town Hall and taken by messenger daily to the laboratory.
Samples of milk may be submitted by the Department for examination
for pathogenic bacteria in relation to suspected cases or outbreaks
of milkborne disease; for tubercle bacilli in certain cases, and for
grading under the Milk (Special Designations) Regulations. Samples
of icecream are submitted for evidence of bacterial contamination and
for grading, whilst samples of foods offered for sale are submitted for
suitability for human consumption, for pathogenic organisms and
for evidence of bacterial toxins in relation to outbreaks of cases of
suspected food poisoning.
The following summary relates to the work carried out by the
laboratory on behalf of the Council during 1950 :—
(1) Throat/nose swabs
Diphtheria bacilli 1
Haemolytic streptococci 160
Vincent's angina 1
Negative 278
Total - 440
(2) Faeces
Shigella 29
Salmonella 19
Protozoa 1
Negative 251
Total - 300
(3) Sputum
TB smear 2
Other organisms 3
Negative 54
Total - 59
(4) Pertussis
Cough plate —
Postnasal swab -
Negative 2
Total -2
(5) Milk, etc.
Pasteurized 40
Other 10
Icecream 101
Total 151
(6) Water
Domestic supplies,
etc 13
Swimming pools 10
Total 23
(7) Miscellaneous 98
1073
National Assistance Act, 1948—section 47
Under section 47 of the above Act persons suffering from grave
chronic disease, or who are aged, infirm or physically incapacitated, and
who are living in insanitary conditions and unable to devote to themselves
and not receiving from other persons proper care and attention,
may be removed compulsorily. For this the medical officer of health
must be satisfied, after thorough inquiry and consideration, that in the
interests of any such person or for preventing injury to the health of,
or serious nuisance to, other persons it is necessary to remove that person.