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

Wimbledon 1931

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wimbledon]

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Table: The number of specimens of throat swabs, sputum, and blood submitted by the general practitioners of the Borough to Mr. J. H. Johnston, M.Sc., F.I.C., for bacteriological examination during the year in doubtful cases of diphtheria, pulmonary tuberculosis and typhoid fever, and the result of such examinations are given below.

The number of specimens of throat swabs, sputum, and blood submitted by the general practitioners of the Borough to Mr. J. H. Johnston, M.Sc., F.I.C., for bacteriological examination during the year in doubtful cases of diphtheria, pulmonary tuberculosis and typhoid fever, and the result of such examinations are given below.

Bacteria Pound.Bacteria Not PoundTotal.
Diphtheria Swabs43528571
Phthisis (Sputum)11119133
Pus (Ophthalmia Neonatorum).........
Reaction Obtained.Reaction Not Obtained.Total
Typhoid (Blood, Urine and Faeces)25254
Positive.Negative.Total.
Virulence Tests...33

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Chemical Work.—Mr. J. H. Johnston, M.Sc., F.I.C.,
carries out the analytical work in connection with preliminary
samples taken under the Food and Drug's Acts, the analysis
of water, gas, and sewage effluents required by the Wimbledon
Corporation, and of food samples suspected of contamination
or adulteration.
48
LABORATORY WORK.
The number of pathological specimens examined in the
laboratory at the Health Centre during 1931 by the medical
staff, amounted to 3,141. Most of these specimens were
siwalbs taken from the nose and throat which were examined
for the presence of diphtheria bacilli. The following additional
specimens, principally from the Isolation Hospital,
were also examined at the laboratory:—
Smears 6
Blood 1
Ringworm 11
Sputum Nil
Cerebro Spinal Fluids 4
Urine Specimens 30