London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Paddington 1932

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Paddington, Metropolitan Borough of]

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38
ADMINISTRATION.
GENERAL.
Staff of the Department.—Following the decease of Six William R. Smith, Mr. Alan W.
Stewart, D.Sc., A.I.C., of the Royal Institute of Public Health, was appointed Public
Analyst by the Council on the 31st May, 1932.
Miss L. M. O'Kell and Mr. G. J. Miners, Sanitary Inspectors, retired from the Council's
service on the 25th September and the 31st December, respectively. The positions vacated
by them were unfilled at the close of the year.
Mr. H. D. Bailey was appointed Sanitary Inspector, and Miss C. Teale, Health Visitor,
on the 20th January, 1932, to fill vacancies which had arisen during the previous year.
Mr. L. Spears was appointed Assistant Mortuary Keeper on the 31st May, 1932.
Prevention of Infectious Disease.—Visits of enquiry after notification of infectious
disease numbered 5,561. This figure excludes visits in connection with tuberculosis, which
are recorded elsewhere in this report.
The removals to hospitals and other institutions for various diseases other than tuberculosis
numbered 1,159.
In connection with the arrangement between the Council and the Paddington and St.
Marylebone District Nursing Association, 209 patients (comprising 137 cases of measles, 63
of pneumonia, 5 of whooping-cough, and 4 of ophthalmia neonatorum) were visited in their
homes by the nurses of the Association. The visits paid to such patients numbered 2,752.
Disinfection.—The rooms disinfected after infectious disease numbered 852, including
152 rooms disinfected after tuberculosis.
The weight of bedding, etc., removed for disinfection at the Wood Lane Disinfecting
Station, under the agreement with the Kensington Borough Council, amounted to nearly
20¾ tons.
Four hundred and seventy-six library books were disinfected.
Schools.—A total of 3,397 notices relating to cases of infectious disease was despatched
to the Head Teachers of the various schools attended by patients or their "contacts," 2,850 of
such notices referring to cases of measles, whooping-cough and chicken-pox, and the remainder
to cases of diphtheria, scarlet fever and other notifiable diseases. In addition, 608 reports were
sent to the medical officers of health of other boroughs in connection with cases attending
outlying schools.
Bacteriological Work.—The Council have an arrangement with the Royal Institute of
Public Health, 23, Queen Square, W.C.I., for the bacteriological examination, at the
expense of the Council, of specimens sent by medical practitioners of Paddington patients
suspected to be suffering from diphtheria or typhoid fever.
All specimens are collected at the Town Hall and transmitted to the Institute by
special messenger. The results are generally available the next morning, and are telephoned
to the medical practitioner concerned.
Examinations of sputa from patients suspected to be suffering from tuberculosis of the
lungs are undertaken by the Paddington Tuberculosis Dispensary, 20, Talbot Road.

The examinations made during 1932 were as follows:—

Disease suspected.Number of Examinations.Number of Positive Results
Diphtheria1,016102
Tuberculosis41483
Typhoid Fever102
Ophthalmia Neonatorum1
Cerebro-spinal Meningitis1

House Drainage.—During the year 2 existing drains were tested and found water-tight,
and 67 defective drains were reconstructed.
Reconstruction Plans.—Two hundred and fifty-six (256) plans were submitted for
drainage works in existing buildings. In connection therewith 451 letters were despatched.
One summons was issued for failure to supply plans.
Combined Drainage.—Orders were made under Section 74 of the Metropolis Management
Act, 1855, with respect to new drainage systems to which the following groups of
houses were to be connected:—
Princes Square, Nos. 6 and 7; Nos. 8, 9 and 10; Nos. 17, 18 and 19.