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
Beddington and Wallington 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Beddington and Wallington]
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GENERAL PROVISION OF HEALTH SERVICES
FOR THE AREA.
LABORATORY FACILITIES.
There have been no changes in the arrangements for the examination of swabs, sputa and other pathological material:—
| Specimens examined. | Totals. | Positive. | Negative. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diphtheria—Routine examinations. Swabs for local practitioners | 137 | - | 137 |
| Tuberculosis—(Sputa) | 57 | 5 | 52 |
| 194 | 5 | 189 |
In May the Council approved the Medical Officer of Health's
scheme for the provision of a laboratory in the Town Hall for the
examination of samples of water and milk. This was thought to
represent the most economical way in which to meet the ever-increasing
demand for more analyses.
Subsequent events have shown how wise was this decision, and although the laboratory did not come into operation until the 18th October (before the water-borne Croydon Typhoid outbreak) the following tables of the analyses carried out up to the close of the year are a record of work of the utmost importance in the preservation of the health of the people of Beddington and Wallington:—
| Samples. | Outside Laboratories. 1st January to 17th October. | M.O.H.'s Laboratory. 18th October to 31st December. |
|---|---|---|
| Water:— | ||
| Chemical analyses | 5 | — |
| Bacteriological analyses | 20 | 20 |
| Milk:— | ||
| Bacteriological examinations | 51 | 13 |
Specimens which cannot be examined adequately in the laboratory
are sent to the Counties Public Health Laboratories, 91, Queen Victoria
Street, London, and some pathological specimens are sent to the
Pathological Laboratory at the Croydon General Hospital.
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