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34
MISCELLANEOUS
Canal Boats Act
The section of the Grand Surrey Canal passing through the Borough
was kept under observation by the District Inspector but no canal boats
were found of a type requiring inspection.
Common Lodging Houses
The only common lodging house in the Borough is Carrington House,
Brookmill Road, which is maintained by the London County Council.
Routine calls are made by the District Sanitary Inspector and special night
visits are paid at intervals. Permission was given for a room on the ground
floor to be used as a " sick-bay " for an experimental period because of
the delay met with in obtaining the admission of sick persons to hospital.
No nursing of any sort is provided but sick persons are not so isolated as
they would be in cubicles on an upper floor and serious or dangerous illness
is less likely to be overlooked.
Laboratory Service
The epidemiological service has been considerably improved by the
establishment at the Park Hospital of a laboratory in association with the
Public Health Laboratory Service.
This laboratory is not only able to carry out the large number of
bacteriological examinations which would be required in any serious
outbreak of infectious disease but is also able to assist in the field work
necessary in tracing the source of infection.
In addition it is possible to increase the number of samples of food sent
for bacteriological examination in efforts to improve the standards of food
supplied to the public.
It has however been thought advisable to continue the laboratory
facilities at the Devonport Laboratory, Seamen's Hospital, for the
examination of swabs and other specimens sent by general practitioners.
It is possible at this laboratory to continue a week-end service and it is
also considered important that the general practitioner should be encouraged
to consult the pathologist personally. With the increasing complexity
of bacteriological examinations, consultation is advisable if
proper weight in each case is to be given to bacteriological and clinical
findings rather than that too much reliance should be placed on a printed
report and it is thought that such consultation is more likely to be fostered
if the laboratory is in the area where the doctors have their practices.