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
Kensington 1948
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]
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7
GENERAL PROVISION OP HEALTH SERVICES IN THE AREA
Bacteriological and Analytical Work
The work performed during the year was as follows:-
| Nature of specimen or sample | Number examined |
| Nose, ear and throat swabs | 940 |
| Sputum | 926 |
| Rectal and other swabs | 756 |
| Faeces and urine | 907 |
| Milk (bacteriological) | |
| Water (drinking) | 9 |
| Water (swimming baths) | 12 |
| Ice Cream | 52 |
| Miscellaneous | 18 |
The Council's bacteriological work has been carried out by
the Wright Fleming Institute at St. Mary's Hospital, Paddington,
since 191+6, at a cost to the Council of £1+30. per annum. During
the year it became possible to make arrangements for the Central
Public Health Laboratory Service at Hendon to undertake the work
free of charge, provided the Council undertook to arrange for
the transport of the specimens. The change will effect a
financial saving to the Council and accordingly the contract
with the Wright Fleming Institute was cancelled. The Central
Laboratory commenced carrying out the bacteriological work on
1st January, 19U9.
Medicinal Baths (Personal Cleansing Station) The record of work done is as follows:-
| Adults | ||||||||
| Kensington | 270 | 511 | 172 | 191 | - | - | 6 | 31 |
| Other boroughs | 164 | 301 | 71 | 81 | - | - | - | - |
| Schoolchildren | ||||||||
| Kensington | 126 | 602 | 2080 | 2080 | 5 | 50 | 11 | |
| Other boroughs | 59 | 145 | 466 | 466 | 2 | 15 | 1 | 1 |
| Children under 5 | ||||||||
| Kensington | 77 | 142 | 50 | 50 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 2 |
| Other boroughs | 53 | 18 | 18 | - | - | - | - | |
| Compulsory Cleansinfis | - | - | 320 | 320 | - | - | - | - |
| TOTALS | 722 | 175U | 3177 | 3206 | 9 | 74 | 19 | 88 |