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 1939
Report on the sanitary condition of the Borough of Bermondsey for the year 1939
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(23)
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 four, two for scabies and two for verminous conditions, the total
number of persons accommodated being 32.
BACTERIOLOGICAL LABORATORY. The work done in the Laboratory during the year is set out in the appended table.
| Examined for | Total Examinations | Results of Examination | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Positive | Negative | |||||
| 1938 | 1939 | 1938 | 1939 | 1938 | 1939 | |
| Diphtheria (specimens taken by Medical Officer of Health | 281 | 149 | 16 | 3 | 265 | 146 |
| Ditto (taken by general practitioners) | 1,122 | 793 | 59 | 34 | 1,063 | 759 |
| Diphtheria (total specimens taken) | 1,403 | 942 | 75 | 37 | 1,328 | 905 |
| Phthisis | 1,042 | 939 | 123 | 146 | 919 | 793 |
| Various | 303 | 229 | 29 | 18 | 274 | 211 |
| Total specimens taken | 2,748 | 2,110 | 227 | 201 | 2,521 | 1,909 |
FOOD POISONING.
Ten cases of Food Poisoning were notified to me during the year
under The Public Health (London) Act, 1936, Section 182.
INSULIN FOR DIABETIC PATIENTS.
Under Section 227 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936,
the Minister of Health has sanctioned the temporary supply of insulin
for those poorer inhabitants of the borough who are suffering from
Diabetes. Practitioners applying for supplies of insulin are required : —
(a) To give the name, address, age and sex of the patient.
(b) To supply a quarterly report to the Medical Officer of Health
showing:—
(1) The number of doses of insulin administered.
(2) The results of blood and urine tests.
(3) The progress of the patient.
Thirty-three patients have been supplied during the year as
compared with twenty-six patients in 1938.