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

City of London 1920

Report of the Medical Officer of Health of the City of London for the year 1920

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26
Form 2 sets out the annual return of pathological examinations made at
St. Bartholomew's Hospital in connection with the various patients who came under
treatment. The costs of this work are included in the annual contribution paid to the
Hospital.

Table: Form2—Annual Return from Pathological Laboratories.—All pathological examinations made in the St. Bartholomew's Hospital Laboratory, 20, Golden Lane, during the year ending on the 31st December, 1921, relating to persons residing in the Counties and County Boroughs as set out below:—

Form2—Annual Return from Pathological Laboratories.—All pathological examinations made in the St. Bartholomew's Hospital Laboratory, 20, Golden Lane, during the year ending on the 31st December, 1921, relating to persons residing in the Counties and County Boroughs as set out below:—

Nature of Test.Number of Tests.
For detection of spirochetesFor Treatment CentreLondon.Essex.Herts.Middx.Surrey.Kent.Bucks.Hants.
76.....................
For Practitioners........................
For detection of gonococciFor Treatment Centre2,5396010881244
For Practitioners51.....................
For Wassermann reactionFor Treatment Centre1,5342081212312
For Practitioners and St. Bart's.1,580.....................
Otder examinationsFor Treatment CentreC.S.F. 1.....................
C.F.T. 3.....................
For PractitionersC.S.F. 56.....................
C.F.T. 1.....................
Total6,005

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February 9th, 1921. N. S. BONARD,
Pathologist.
EXAMINATION FOR PATHOGENIC BACTERIA.
Any medical practitioner desiring examinations of specimens for Pathogenic
Bacteria in cases of suspected infectious disease occurring amongst their patients
residing in the City, should forward them to the Medical Officer of Health at the
Guildhall. Arrangements have been made for free examination, and the results
obtained are communicated as speedily as possible.
During the year the following specimens were so dealt with. It will be seen
that positive results were obtained in 29.2 per cent.of these cases.
Result.
Specimen. Disease suspected. Positive. Negative.
19 Swabbings from throats Diphtheria 6 13
5 Sputum Tuberculosis 1 4
Of the 19 swabbings from throats, 10 were received from the Central Foundation
School for Girls, Spital Square, E.C. These swabs were sent to the City Pathologist
in accordance with the arrangements between the City Corporation and the London
County Council. This school is situate partly in the City and partly in the Metropolitan
Borough of Shoreditch, and pupils attend from many parts of the East and North-East
of London, and also Boroughs and Urban districts in Essex and Middlesex.
SMOKE AND ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION.
Eleven instances of smoke nuisance or annoyance from chimneys were dealt with
during the year. Some of these were of a temporary character and did not recur,
others were abated upon the service of the usual form of notice upon the offenders and
there has been no occasion to take further action.
As mentioned in previous Reports, the annoyance and the evil from coal smoke
cannot satisfactorily be dealt with by law until the enactments at present in force
are strengthened or amended. The dirt and discomfort from smoke continues, although
in a lesser degree than in former years, and for which the enormous numbers of the
chimneys in surrounding Greater London are largely responsible. Difficulties in the
way of obtaining suitable coal and skilled labour are still a fruitful source of trouble.