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
Southgate 1955
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Southgate]
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Laboratory Facilities.
Once again, we did not have to call upon the Laboratory to
any great extent during 1955, owing to the absence of major outbreaks
of infectious disease or any other untoward happenings.
None the less, I would place on record my personal appreciation of
the great help extended to the Public Health Department by the
Director and Staff of the Central Public Health Laboratory at
Colindale, and also by Dr. Thomas, the Bacteriologist in charge of
the Branch Laboratory at Edmonton. This help has invariably
been forthcoming in generous measure. It has not only been of
practical assistance, but remains a safeguard upon which we know
we can always rely.
Summary of work carried out at Central Public Health Laboratories for the year:
| Positive | Negative | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Swabs for diphtheria bacilli | 161 | ||
| Sputa for tubercle bacilli | 87 | ||
| Throat and Nose | 390 | ||
| Faeces | 648 | ||
| Blood | 88 | ||
| Urine | 78 | ||
| Others | 115 | ||
Mortuary.
The position in regard to the Council mortuary at the rear of
the Town Hall is still as set out in the Report for 1946, except that
we now have a firm agreement with the Prince of Wales Hospital
to accept Southgate bodies. Up to the present, no difficulties have
arisen.
Scabies and Lice.
I reported fully on this aspect of our work in the Report for
1951. The remarks set out in that Report still apply.
NATIONAL ASSISTANT ACT 1948
Section 47.—Removal to suitable premises of persons in need of
care and attention.
No action was taken by the Council in 1955 under this Section.
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