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 1956
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lewisham Borough]
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25
Laboratory facilities
The following summary relates to the work carried out by the
laboratory on behalf of the Council during 1956 :—
Table 13
| Specimens | Number | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Faeces | 1,416 | Negative |
| 629 | Positive - Shigella sonnei | |
| 34 | ,. - Salmonella typhimurium | |
| 9 | „ - Salmonella enteritidis | |
| 5 | ,, - Salmonella cholerasuis | |
| 4 | „ - Salmonella paratyphi B | |
| 4 | „ - Salmonella heidelberg | |
| 3 | „ - Bact. coli, type 0 26 | |
| Urine | 5 | |
| Nose swabs, throat swabs, etc. | 122 | C. diphtheriae was not isolated from any of these specimens. Figure includes 1 positive Vincent's angina |
| Sputum, for organisms | 16 | |
| for tubercle bacilli | 15 | Negative |
| 1 | Positive | |
| for malignant cells | 2 | Negative |
| Slides of urethral discharge for gonococci | 1 | Negative |
| Icecream | 3 | |
| Water (Lad/well Lodge) | 1 | |
| Sundry foods | 7 |
The large number of faecal specimens reflects the high incidence
of Sonne dysentery infection during the year.
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
634, of which 317 were received from institutions, 634 postmortem
examinations were made and inquests were held in 112 cases.