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SHELTER.
Four flats are provided in The Neckinger for the temporary
housing of families or persons while their premises are being
disinfected. The number of families accommodated during
the year was 11, 3 for scabies, 7 for verminous conditions and 1
for temporary insanitary condition of house, the total number
of persons accommodated being 66.
BACTERIOLOGICAL LABORATORY.
To a large extent the work of the bacteriological laboratory
consists in the examination of sputa for the tubercule bacillus
and of throat swabs for K.L.B., and only about ten per cent.
of the total number of investigations made were for other purposes.
One or two of the practitioners in the borough do make
considerable use of the facilities provided by the Council, but
.generally speaking this source of assistance is rather neglected.
Sterile outfits for throat swabs and sputum pots for the examination
of sputa are supplied free on application to the Medical Officer
of Health. All diphtheria contacts of school age are excluded
from school until the swab is negative. A positive result necessitates
a further examination, treatment being provided in the
meantime by the general practitioner. Proved " carriers " are
usually referred to the London County Council " Carrier " Clinic
at Guy's Hospital. In addition to the examination of swabs and
sputa other bacteriological investigations are undertaken on
request, and it will be seen from the accompanying table that the
number of these " various " investigations shows a slight decrease
this year.