London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Paddington 1897

Report on vital statistics and sanitary work for the year 1897

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72
fever, the midwives and nurses are specially warned
not to attend further cases until efficient disinfection
shall have been carried out.
During the year a system of inter-notification has
been inaugurated by the Department, and Medical
Officers of Health of other districts are now advised
of the occurrence of cases in this Parish due to
infection acquired elsewhere, of cases imported from
outside districts, &c. Duplicates of all notices sent
to teachers of schools situated in other districts are
sent to the Medical Officers of those districts.
At present there is no provision for the bacteriological
diagnosis of diphtheria and enteric fever.
Such examination is useful for the decision of
doubtful cases, for the detection of cases which might
otherwise remain unknown and lead to the dissemination
of disease, and for the safe determination of
freedom of infection on recovery of the patients.
There can be little doubt that systematic bacteriological
examination effects an economy in expenditure
for hospital isolation, saves much anxiety to the
relatives of patients, and conduces to the general
health of the inhabitants of the district by the elimination
of possible foci for the spread of infection.
In accordance with the provisions of the 60th
Section of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, the
Vestry has provided temporary accommodation for
persons excluded from the use of their homes during
the processes of disinfection. The "Family Shelter"