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
Camberwell 1934
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Camberwell.
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93
The number of specimens received and examined during the year amounted
to 5,513. This number was composed as follows: —
Swabs for diphtheria
2,731
Percentage positive 10.3
Sputa for tubercle
2,648
„ „
18.8
Bloods for Widal's test
1
„ „
0.0
Milks (Bacteriological)
70
Bath Waters (Bacteriological)
14
Well Waters (Bacteriological)
5
Ice Creams (Bacteriological)
6
Milks (Special tubercle test)
6
Other specimens (miscellaneous)
31
Total
5,512
The work has shewn a definite increase on last year's figure of 4,914. It
appears that the demands of medical practitioners in the Borough have increased,
and this appears to be the main factor in the higher figure for 1934.
G. BOUSFIELD, M.D., B.S.Lond., Borough Bacteriologist.
Disinfection.
Disinfection of bedding and clothing is carried out at the
disinfecting station in Peckham Park Road, by means of a Manlove
Alliott super-heated steam disinfecting machine and an Equifex
saturated steam disinfecting machine. Books, furs, leather goods,
etc., are disinfected in a formalin chamber. Infectious rooms are
sprayed with formalin solution, and verminous rooms are similarly
treated with an insecticide fluid after the walls have been stripped.
The following is a summary of work carried out by the disinfecting
staff during 1934.
DISINFECTING DEPARTMENT. Return of Work, 1934.
| Number of houses visited following Infectious Disease | 1,863 |
| Number of visits to these premises | 3,896 |
| Number of houses visited following other diseases | 196 |
| Number of visits to these premises | 455 |
| Number of houses visited for miscellaneous purposes | 643 |
| Number of visits to these premises | 744 |
| Number of rooms disinfected. Infectious Disease | 2,662 |
| Number of houses visited. Verminous | 782 |
| Number of rooms disinfected. Verminous | 989 |
| Number of articles disinfected (steam disinfected) | 60,763 |
| Number of articles disinfected (formalin) | 2,056 |
| Number of books disinfected | 1,220 |
| Number of articles destroyed | 3,018 |
Prevention of Blindness.
The health visitors are instructed to report all cases of blindness
in children under the age of 5 years.
As from April 1st, 1935, the London County Council propose to
discharge the duties in connection with the welfare of blind persons