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
Deptford 1929
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Deptford, Metropolitan Borough of]
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| No. of Deaths. | Percentage of total Deaths. | Death.rate per 1,000 population. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average 1915-1924 | 24 | 1.5 | 0.22 |
| 1925 | 17 | 1.2 | 0.15 |
| 1926 | 5 | 0.4 | 0.04 |
| 1927 | 11 | 0.8 | 0.10 |
| 1928 | 15 | 1.1 | 0.13 |
| 1929 | 16 | 1.1 | 0.14 |
It cannot be too strongly urged that good nursing and the keeping
of the child in a warm, well.ventilated room for a sufficient period still
remains our most effective means of warding off the risk of pneumonia
which so frequently leads up to death.
Bacteriological Facilities.
The Council's general bacteriological work is conducted at the
Seamen's Hospital, Greenwich, while sputum for tubercle bacilli is
ordinarily examined at the Tuberculosis Dispensary.
The following is a summary of the work done:—
| Material. | Total Specimens examined. | Number Positive | Number Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swabs for Diphtheria | 1105 | 202 | 903 |
| Sputum for Tuberculosis | 121 | 16 | 105 |
| Blood for Enteric Fever | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| Diphtheria, Guinea pig inoculation virulence | for 1 | 1 | - |
| Pleural effusion | 1 | — | 1 |
| Swabs for meningococcus | 1 | — | 1 |
| Smear from eye | 1 | — | 1 |
At the Tuberculosis Dispensary, 1015 specimens of sputum were
examined. Of these, 692 specimens were of sputa of Dispensary
patients, while private practitioners submitted the balance, viz., 323
specimens.