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Bacteriological Examinations
The examination of bacteriological specimens for Camberwell
is carried out in the laboratory at St. Giles' Hospital.
The following report of Dr. Bousfield, the Pathologist at the
Hospital, sets out in detail the number and the result of the
specimens submitted during the year 1926: —
The number of specimens received and dealt with amounted to 6,147. This
number is greater by about 470 than last year.
The specimens were composed as follows: —
Percentage positive 14.4
Diphtheria swabs 3,485
Percentage positive 16.8
Sputum examinations 2,606
Percentage positive 0.0
Widal reactions 15
Pus, etc. 11
Milks and Ice Creams 19
Waters 5
Other specimens 6
Total 6,147
DISINFECTION.
The disinfecting and cleansing stations are situated at the
Peckham Park Road Depot. Two steam disinfectors are installed
in the disinfecting station. Bedding, clothing, etc., are
disinfected by exposure to steam, under a pressure varying
between 10 and 12 lbs., for twenty minutes. Vapour is used for
the disinfection of leather, furs and other articles which cannot be
exposed to high temperatures. Rooms which have been exposed
to infection are disinfected by a spraying apparatus with formalin
at 3 per cent. Verminous rooms are disinfected by spraying with
eucryl at a strength of one in 50.
Disinfection of Library Books. —Books which are found in a
house where there has been a case of infectious disease are collected,
disinfected by formalin vapour and returned to their
respective owners.
The work done by the Disinfecting and Cleansing Station
Staffs during the past year is set out in the tables which appear
on pages 70 and 71.
Cleansing of Verminous Persons.
Under an agreement with the London County Council the
station is reserved for the use of school children every day until
4 p.m., except Saturday, while the schools are open. Vermin
cases are dealt with on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays,
and scabies cases on Mondays and Fridays. Adults are dealt
with on any day after 4 p.m. The women Sanitary Inspectors
visit the homes of the children cleansed and make the necessary
arrangements for the cleaning and disinfection of the bedding and
rooms, including articles of wearing apparel.