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 1933
Report on the sanitary condition of the Borough of Bermondsey for the year 1933
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BACTERIOLOGICAL LABORATORY.
As in previous years the work of the laboratory has consisted
very largely in the examination of sputa and throat swabs.
Many of the throat swabs are sent by general practitioners and
sterile outfits for this purpose are supplied free on application to
the Medical Officer of Health. All Diphtheria contacts of school
age are excluded from school until the throat swab is negative.
A positive result of course necessitates a further examination, and
treatment in the meantime by the private practitioner. Proved
"Carriers" are usually referred to the London County Council
"Carriers" Clinic at Guy's Hospital.
In addition to the examination of swabs and sputa other bacteriological investigations are undertaken when requested.
| Nature of Specimen | Total Examinations | Results of Examination | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Positive | Negative | |||||
| 1932 | 1933 | 1932 | 1933 | 1932 | 1933 | |
| Diphtheria (specimens taken by Medical Officer of Health) | 496 | 777 | 23 | 68 | 473 | 709 |
| Ditto (taken by general practitioners) | 1390 | 1905 | 119 | 220 | 1271 | 1685 |
| Diphtheria (total specimens taken) | 1886 | 2682 | 142 | 288 | 1744 | 2394 |
| Phthisis | 1883 | 1678 | 261 | 297 | 1622 | 1381 |
| Various | 188 | 158 | 9 | 4 | 179 | 154 |
| Total specimens taken | 3957 | 4518 | 412 | 589 | 3545 | 3929 |
FOOD POISONING.
Section 7 of the London County Council (General Powers)
Act, 1932, provides that every registered medical practitioner
shall send to the Medical Officer of Health a notification for every
case, or suspected case, of Food Poisoning.
Number of cases notified during 1933 29