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
Deptford 1927
Annual report on the health of the Metropolitan Borough of Deptford
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57
(d) Registration of Maternity Homes. The London County
Council is the Local Supervising Authority.
(e) Chemical Work. The Report concerning Food and Drugs
will be found in the tables given hereafter.
Laboratory Work at Seamen's Hospital, Greenwich.
| Material. | Total Specimen examined. | Number Positive | Number Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swabs for Diphtheria | 1222 | 161 | 1061 |
| Blood for Enteric Fever | 7 | 4 | 3 |
| Faeces and urine for Enteric Fever and Paratyphoid | 5 | — | 5 |
| Sputum for Tuberculosis | 44 | 7 | 37 |
| Urine for „ | 1 | — | 1 |
| „ B. Coli | 1 | — | 1 |
| Milk for Paratyphoid | 1 | — | 1 |
| Ice Cream | 6 | — | 6 |
| Watercress | 2 | — | 2 |
| Milk (Guinea pig inoculation) | 1 | — | 1 |
| Cream bun | 1 | — | 1 |
| Moss from uterus | 1 | — | 1 |
| Total | 1292 | 172 | 1120 |
In addition to the above, 856 specimens of sputa were examined at
the Council's Tuberculosis Dispensary, in connection with Dispensary
work and 303 specimens, for private practitioners, from persons not on
the Dispensary Register. Diphtheria anti-toxin is kept available at
the Town Hall for practitioners requiring it in an emergency. Where
the patient can pay for it, cost price is charged.
In London, there is not the same great need for anti-sera at the
Public Health Department as in the provinces, simply because when a
practitioner sees a diphtheria case in a house he rings up on the telephone
and the case is removed to hospital rapidly, where the necessary serum
is given.