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
Lewisham 1945
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lewisham Borough]
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Section "B" (Continued)
LABORATORY FACT LITIES
The bacteriological work of the Council is carried out under contract by St. John's Hospital, Lewisham. Routine examinations of throat and nasal swabs, sputum and blood specimens, etc., were submitted, and the following is a brief summary of the work undertaken
| Positive | Negative | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diphtheria | 16 | 676 | 692 |
| Tuberculosis | 158 | 796 | 954 |
| Typhoid | • | 4 | 4 |
| Miscellaneous | 4 | 3 | 7 |
| Totals | 178 | 1,479 | 1,657 |
VACCINATION
The Annual Return made by the Vaccination Officer to the
Registrar General respecting the vaccination of children whose
births were registered in the Borough during the year ended
31st December 1944 shows that of the 1953 births so registered
955 or 48.9 per cent were successfully vaccinated.
PUBLIC MORTUARY AND CORONER'S COURT.
The number of bodies taken to the Council's Public
Mortuary during the year was 339. Inquests were held in
122 cases. These figures do not include deaths due to war
operations, for which separate provision was made.
RODENT CONTROL
This was maintained by the Council's Rodent Officer and
his assistant in conjunction with the sewer operatives.
TUBERCULOSIS DISPENSARY SERVICE.
The total number of persons examined at the Council's
Tuberculosis Dispensary was 5.680. Of this number 1,895 were
new cases and 558 were contacts.
The number of definite cases of Tuberculosis on the
Dispensary Register at the beginning of the year was 1.772
and 1,886 at the end of the year.
The Council's Tuberculosis Health Visitors paid 2,880
visits to the homes of patients during the year.
Tuberculosis Allowances.
The scheme for the payment of allowances to persons suffering
from pulmonary tuberculosis who have to give up remunerative
employment to undergo treatment continued during the year 1945,
as well as the supply of extra nourishment.