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
Sidcup 1925
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Sidcup]
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14
Recently, disinfection has been carried out after fatal
cases of cancer, when so desired.
Laboratory Work.— The bacteriological work for this
District is carried out at the Kent County Laboratory.
The following shows the number of examinations made and the results obtained:—
| Total. | Positive. | Negative. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swabs for Diphtheria | 35 | 5 | 30 |
| Sputa for Tubercle | 16 | 1 | 15 |
| Widals for Typhoid Fever | 2 | - | 9 |
| Totals | 53 | 6 | 47 |
DRAINAGE.
The whole of the developed area is sewered by the sewers
of the Local Authority which connect with the outfall sewers
of the West Kent Main Sewerage Board.
The undeveloped part is mainly agricultural with the
exception of an area known as the Queenswood Estate,
Blackfen, consisting of about 40 houses, which are drained
into Septic Tanks. The sewerage of this area must be dealt
with in the near future, and I understand it will receive
consideration following the completion of the Town Planning
Scheme now in hand.
WATER SUPPLY.
The mains of the Metropolitan Water Board are available
for the whole of the District.
A chemical analysis of the water yields the following figures:—
| Parts per 100,000. | |
|---|---|
| Ammoniacal Nitrogen | .0001 |
| Albuminoid Nitrogen | .0015 |
| Oxidised Nitrogen | 0.65 |
| Oxygen absorbed from Permanganate | .0060 |
| Chlorides expressed as Chlorine | 1.42 |
| Hardness (Total) | 27.3 |
| Hardness (Permanent) | 5.4 |
HOUSING.
The overcrowding in the District is mainly of the type
which could be termed "moral" in contradistinction to the
overcrowding which is remedial under the Public Health or
Housing Acts.
From observations, the following may be suggested the
reasons for this state of affairs:—