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 1900
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lambeth, The Vestry of the Parish of]
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15
REPORT ON 1,000 BACTERIOLOGICAL
EXAMINATIONS MADE IN THE
BOROUGH LABORATORY, BY DR.
PRIESTLEY, MEDICAL OFFICER OF
HEALTH.
The Bacteriological Laboratory was opened last year (1899), at
Arlington Lodge, Wanless Road, Loughborough. During the short
time that the Laboratory has been in use, the number of examinations
that have been made represents a large amount of good work,
and fully justifies the late Vestry in having decided, on December
8th, 1898, to "Provide a local Bacteriological Laboratory for the
sole use of Medical Men practising in Lambeth Parish." The
specimens examined consist of (1) throat membranes and discharges
from doubtful Diphtheria cases; (2) Sputa from suspected
tuberculosis cases; (3) blood from doubtful typhoid cases,
etc., and the details may be tabulated as follow:—
Bacilla found or Re-action obtained.
| Yes. | No. | Total. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sputa | 68 | 132 | 200 |
| Blood | 97 | 81 | 178 |
| Throat Membranes and Discharges | 191 | 429 | 620 |
| Ulcer of Face (? Anthrax) | — | 1 | 1 |
| Urine (? Tubercular) | — | 1 | 1 |
| 356 | 644 | 1000 |
T ubcrculosis.
200 samples of Sputa from doubtful Tuberculosis cases have
been examined, and in 68 (i.e., 34 per cent.) Bacilli found. The
great importance of early diagnosis in cases of Consumption needs