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19
BACTERIOLOGICAL EXAMINATIONS.
The bacteriological examination of clinical material (with the
exception of sputum which is dealt with at the Chest Clinic) and
foodstuffs suspected as being the cause of food poisoning was carried
out by the Public Health Laboratory Service, County Hall, Westminster
Bridge, S.E.1. No charge is made to the Council for these examinations.
During the year 1,850 examinations were made as follows:—
Description
Disease
Number of
Specimens or
Food Samples
Positive
Results
Faeces
Dysentery or
Food Poisoning
1,810
592
Throat Swabs Diphtheria 29 Nil
Nasal Swabs Whooping Cough 5 1
Foodstuffs Food Poisoning 6 2
INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATES OF VACCINATION
and INOCULATION.
At the request of the Ministry of Health arrangements are made
for the authentication, by the Medical Officer of Health, of certificates
of vaccination and inoculation issued by medical practitioners in the
Borough in respect of persons going abroad.
During 1956, 376 certificates were authenticated.
CANCER.
During 1956 the number of deaths of Battersea residents from
cancer was 231 (134 males, 97 females) as compared with 247 in
1955, 214 in 1954, 242 in 1953 and 239 in 1952. The death rate from
the disease per 1,000 of the population was 2.05. The deaths from
cancer constitute 18.9 per cent. of the total Battersea deaths during
the year.

Details in age groups and the localisation of this disease will
be found on page 11.