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
Penge 1913
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Penge]
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16
EXAMINATION OF PATHOLOGICAL
PRODUCTS.
During the year the scope of the work of the County
Laboratory has been considerably extended.
In regard to Diphtheria it is now possible to have
organisms from "carriers," who may retain diphtheria bacilli
for a long period, tested for virulence, if required. Samples
of food suspected to have caused food poisoning will be examined,
and if necessary, a bacteriologist will be sent to the
District to collect samples, in conjunction with the Medical
Officer of Health.
The Laboratory also now arranges to test samples of
milk for the presence of tubercle and diphtheria bacilli, and
also for examining specimens taken in connection with any
infectious, contagious or communicable disease.
The results of the examinations were as follows:—
| Bacillus found | Bacillus not found | Total | |
| Diphtheria. Clinical Research Association | 64 | 104 | 168 |
| Diphtheria. County Laboratory | 58 | 99 | 157 |
| Tuberculosis. „ „ | 15 | 20 | 35 |
| Ringworm. „ „ | 42 | 18 | 60 |
| Enteric fever. Clinical Research Association | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| ,, ,, County Laboratory | — | 2 | 2 |
| Totals | 180 | 244 | 424 |
From the above it will be seen that the examinations
made by the Clinical Research Association amounted to 170,
and by the County Laboratory to 254, making a total of 424.
This compares with 424 in 1912, 195 in 1911, 153 in
1910, and 123 in 1909.