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
St Pancras 1908
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, London, Borough of]
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When cases of suspected infectious diseases occur there is sometimes
considerable difficulty and delay in making an exact medical diagnosis in
certain types of the diseases. Here bacteriologcal and additional clinical
examinations are brought to bear upon doubtful types, and to check or confirm
the diagnosis.
Bacteriological Test.— The number of specimens of secretion, blood and sputum submitted to bacteriological tests during the year in suspected cases of Diphtheria, Typhoid or Enteric Fever, and Tuberculosis, and the results of examination were as follows:—
| Racillus found. | Doubtful. | Bacillus not found. | Total. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diphtheria (Secretion) | 46 | .. | 76 | 122 |
| Reaction obtained. | Doubtful. | Reaction not obtained. | Total | |
| Typhoid (Blood) | 9 | .. | 18 | 27 |
| Bacillus found. | Doubtful. | Bacillus not found. | Total. | |
| Tuberculosis (Sputum) | 9 | .. | 37 | 46 |
Infectious Diseases fall into four categories—
(a) Permanent compulsorily notifiable diseases,
(b) Permanent voluntarily notifiable diseases,
(c) Temporary compulsorily notifiable diseases, and
(d) Non-notifiable diseases.