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 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Deptford Borough]
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76
Bacteriological Facilities.
The Council's general bacteriological work is conducted at the
Seamen's Hospital, Greenwich, while sputum for tubercle bacilli is
ordinarily examined at the Tuberculosis Dispensary.
The following is a summary of the work done*:—
Laboratory Work at Seamen's Hospital, Greenwich, 1937.
| Material. | Number Positive. | Number Negative. | Total. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swabs for Diphtheria | 122 | 715 | 837 |
| Samples of Disinfectant Powder | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Sputum for Tuberculosis | 31 | 52 | 83 |
| Fæces for Enteric Fever | 3 | 6 | 9 |
| Fæces for Dysentery | 3 | 10 | 13 |
| Swimming bath water | — | 9 | 9 |
| Urine for Enteric | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Blood „ „ | 2 | — | 2 |
| Urine for Tuberculosis | — | 2 | 2 |
| Pus „ „ | — | 2 | 2 |
| Vomit for Coliform baccilus | 1 | — | 1 |
| Urine for Albuminuria | — | 2 | 2 |
| Swab from eye | — | 1 | 1 |
| Urea concentration | 1 | — | 1 |
| Maternity outfit for sterility | — | 1 | 1 |
| Body of cat for anthrax | — | 1 | 1 |
| *Note.—Other examinations are reported under " Food." | |||
At the Tuberculosis Dispensary, 893 specimens of sputum were
examined. Of these, 634 specimens were of sputa of Dispensary
patients, while private practitioners submitted the balance, viz., 259
specimens.
| Number of premises visited: Infectious diseases | 595 | |
| „ „ „ Requests, rooms only | 74 | |
| „ „ „ „ bedding only | 76 | |
| „ „ „ Verminous conditions | 159 | |
| „ „ „ Removals | 18 | |
| Total premises visited | 922 | |