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
Paddington 1906
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Paddington, Metropolitan Borough of]
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48
ADMINISTRATIVE WORK
Kensington and Willesden. From those districts 101 returns were received last year as compared with 44 in 1905 and 69 in 1904. An analysis of the diseases is appended:—
| Kensington. | Willesden. | |
|---|---|---|
| Scarlet fever | 18 | 58 |
| Diphtheria | 3 | 18 |
| Enteric fever | 1 | - |
| Other diseases | — | 6 |
| 19 | 82 |
The schools to which the returns of scarlet fever and diphtheria related are shown in
Table 30.
Bacteriological Examinations.—The number of specimens submitted for bacteriological
examination rose from 61 in 1905 to 127 last year, and the number of such specimens giving
positive results from 40 to 86. Stated as a percentage the ratio of negative to positive
results during the past year was 67.7 as compared with a mean of 36.8 during the previous
five years. So long as the results can be received with confidence, the increase in the proportion
of negative results may be regarded as satisfactory, and as an indication of the saving
effected by the use of the bacteriological tests. It may be reasonably concluded that, in the
absence of such tests, the majority of the cases giving negative results would have been
removed to hospital after being certified to have the disease suspected.
The samples submitted during the past year were:—
| No. of Specimens received. | Results. | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Positive. | Negative. | ||
| Diphtheria | 101 | 30 | 71 |
| Enteric fever | 22 | 9 | 13 |
| "Consumption" | 4 | 2 | 2 |
It is to be desired that more use should be made of the facilities afforded for the bacteriological
examination of the sputum in suspected cases of phthisis, and steps are at present
being taken to secure that end.
Offensive Refuse.—Trade Refuse.—No complaints were received with reference to this
work, the system of which remains as described in a former report.
Manure.—The customary notices requiring removal every forty-eight hours were posted
throughout the Borough at the beginning of May. Very few complaints of nuisance from
manure were received, some being without any real cause, and the rest remedied by stricter
supervision. Proceedings were not required.
House Refuse.—A weekly collection is in force throughout the Borough, supplemented by
a second collection in certain streets. It is hoped that during the coming summer a semiweekly
collection will be systematically made from tenement houses and flats. The need for
more frequent removal becomes greater each year with the increasing use of gas for cooking
purposes. The closed kitchen range forms a suitable cremator for perishable refuse, but,
where installed, is rarely put to that use.
Drainage Work.—During the past year 696 new drains were constructed in connection
with existing premises, as compared with 669 in 1905 and 858 in 1904. In each case the new
work was tested in sections and as a whole during construction, and again as a whole after
filling in trenches, &c. In 1905 235 of the 669 re-constructions were on the Queen's Park
Estate, last year the corresponding figures were 162 out of 696, indicating that the work on