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 1953
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]
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9
GENERAL PROVISION OF HEALTH SERVICES IN THE AREA
Bacteriological and Analytical Work
Pathological and bacteriological work is carried out
at the Public Health Laboratory (6th floor), County Hall,
Westminster Bridge, S. E. 1., free of charge to the
Council who, however, bear the cost of transporting the
specimens and samples.
The following is a summary of the work performed during 1953:-
| Nature of specimen or sample | Number examined | |
|---|---|---|
| Nose and throat swabs | 270 | |
| Sputum | 68 | |
| Faeces, rectal swabs and other specimens | 631 | |
| Milk (bacteriological) | 106 | |
| Water (drinking) | 7 | |
| Water (swimming baths) | 8 | |
| Ice cream | 13 | |
| Miscellaneous | 116 | |
Medicinal Baths (Personal Cleansing Station) The record of work done during 1953 is as follows :-
| Description | Scabies | Vermin | Impetigo | Other conditions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Persons | Cleans -ings | Persons | Cleans -ings | Persons | Cleans -ings | Persons | Cleans -ings | |
| Adults | ||||||||
| Kensington | 62 | 111 | 77 | 89 | — | — | 18 | 35 |
| Other boroughs | 41 | 70 | 42 | 44 | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| Schoolchildren | ||||||||
| Kensington | 14 | 51 | 875 | 875 | 3 | 4 | 12 | 28 |
| Other boroughs | 25 | 39 | 269 | 269 | - | - | 5 | 6 |
| Children under 5 | ||||||||
| Kensington | 9 | 15 | 28 | 29 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Other boroughs | 10 | 19 | 4 | 4 | - | - | - | - |
| Compulsory Cleansings | - | - | 140 | 140 | - | - | - | - |
| TOTALS | 161 | 305 | 1,435 | 1,450 | 4 | 5 | 37 | 71 |
In addition to the cleansing of persons referred to above,
articles of personal clothing disinfested at the Medicinal Baths
during the year numbered 1,447.