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 1907
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lambeth, Metropolitan Borough of]
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In 512 (ie., 95.2 per cent.) of the total number of throat and nose samples examined, the Klebs-Lceffler bacilli were not isolated, but other bacilli were found as follow:—
| Streptococci + torulce | 24 |
| Torulce | 22 |
| Torulce + micrococci | 13 |
| Streptococci + micrococci | 9 |
| Streptococci + staphylococci + torulce | 1 |
| Streptococci + staphylococci + sarcince | 1 |
| Pseudo (Hoffmann) bacilli | 1 |
| Pseudo (Hoffmann) bacilli + staphylococci | 6 |
| Pseudo (Hoffmann) bacilli + streptococci | 4 |
| PseudD (Hoffmann) bacilli + torulce | 1 |
| Micrococci | 1 |
| Sarcince | 1 |
The Pseudo bacilli (Hoffman) were found in pure cultivation
in 1 instance, mixed with staphylococci in 6, with streptococci in
4, and with torulce in 1.
Other Examinations.
10 samples of other materials were examined, viz, fœces
(suspected typhoid) 1, urines (suspected tubercle) 3, cancer
growth 1, suspected anthrax 4, and brush (bath) 1.
The special bacteriological examination of a bath brush head
(used in the Public Baths) proved interesting. It was made at
the request of the Baths Committee. There was found a large
number of micro-organisms embedded in and around the roots
of the tufts of hairs, or bristles, which are fixed into holes in
the wooden framework of the brush by means of wire. These
micro-organisms were found to be mixed with dirt, skin-scales,
hairs, organic matter, débris, soap, &c., and this dirt mixture
forms an excellent breeding ground for the many different
germs, which, on bacteriological examination, proved to be—
(a) Liquefying, or putrefactive, bacteria;
(b) Non-liquefying bacteria.