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
Bermondsey 1924
Report on the sanitary condition of the Borough of Bermondsey for the year 1924
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Bacteriological Laboratory.
The total number of specimens examined in 1924 was 3,624 as
compared with 3,532 in 1923, and 2,977 in 1922.
Table C.
Nature of Specimen.
Total
Examinations.
Results of Examination.
Negative.
Positive.
1923
1924
1923
1924
1923
1924
. 1,141
862
Diphtheria (specimens taken by
Medical Officer of Health)
Ditto (taken by general
practitioners)
967
895
42
65
22
58
945
837
1,099
797
2,003
1,509
20
1,862
1,740
22
107
198
-
80
269
2
1,896
1,311
20
1,782
1471
20
Diphtheria (total specimens
taken)
Phthisis
Various
3,532
3,624
305
351
3,227
3,273
Total specimens taken
Contacts.
We still keep very busy in the laboratory as the above table
shows. There was a fall of 174 in the number of school contacts
examined, and out of a total of 967, 22 were positive. These
children came up for re-examination in a week and were not allowed
to return to school until the examination proved negative.
Table C.
| Nature of Specimen. | Total Examinations. | Results of Examination. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Positive. | Negative. | |||||
| 1923 | 1924 | 1923 | 1924 | 1923 | 1924 | |
| Diphtheria (specimens taken by Medical Officer of Health) | 1,141 | 967 | 42 | 22 | 1,099 | 945 |
| Ditto (taken by general practitioners) | 862 | 895 | 65 | 58 | 797 | 837 |
| Diphtheria (total specimens taken) | 2,003 | 1,862 | 107 | 80 | 1,896 | 1,782 |
| Phthisis | 1,509 | 1,740 | 198 | 269 | 1,311 | 1471 |
| Various | 20 | 22 | – | 2 | 20 | 20 |
| Total specimens taken | 3,532 | 3,624 | 305 | 351 | 3,227 | 3,273 |