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23
Bacteriological Examinations
The Borough Council provides bacteriological confirmation of diagnosis free of
charge in connection with certain diseases. This work is carried out by the Royal Institute
of Public Health and Hygiene, 23 Queen Square, W.C.I, and by the Public Health Laboratory Service at County Hall. During the year 139 specimens were submitted for examination
with the following results:—
Disease Positive Negative Total
Diphtheria — 1 1
(Nasal and throat swabs)
Dysentery
(Faecal swabs) 5 99 104
Food Poisoning
(Faecal swabs) 3 16 19
Typhoid
(Faecal swabs) — 11 11
Other pathogenic organisms 1 3 4
Infectious Disease Contacts
Where a person is precluded from continuing at work by reason of being a carrier
or having been in contact with infectious disease, benefits under the National Insurance
Act, 1946, are paid only on production of a certificate from the Medical Officer of Health.
Four certificates were issued during the year, all to persons working in the catering
industry. Three were contacts of a typhoid carrier, and the fourth a contact of a case
of dysentery.
International Certificates of Vaccination
The International Sanitary Regulations adopted by the Fourth World Health
Assembly on 25th May, 1951, prescribe inter alia that International Certificates, to be
valid, must bear an approved stamp which certifies that the signature of the vaccinator
is that of a doctor.
During the year 710 certificates of persons travelling abroad were authenticated by
the Department. Of these 534 were in respect of smallpox, 114 for cholera, 44 for
typhoid, 10 for yellow fever, and 8 for poliomyelitis.
Diphtheria Immunisation
During the year 372 Holborn children completed the primary course of immunisation
against diphtheria, and 326 received boosting doses.