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19
For the greater part of the year there were only three clerks
in the Public Health department, but a fourth began work there
in December. This shortage of assistance has put a heavy strain
upon the clerical staff, and they have done much overtime.
Their work has been of a high standard of excellence.
In addition to the above-mentioned staff, there are two disinfectors
and a mortuary keeper. Occasional labour is obtained
as it is required.
Isolation Hospital.—Reference has already been made to
this. The staff at Coppett's Road consists of the Resident
Medical Officer (Dr. J. R. Prior), the Matron (Miss I. Webb),
22 nurses, 18 maids, a laboratory assistant and 4 men. The gardening
staff is under the control of the Borough Engineer.
Borough Laboratory.—This is situated at the Isolation Hospital.
The majority of the specimens examined were from the
Hospital itself and from the School Clinic. There is no doubt
that an up-to-date and complete laboratory is of great value to
the doctors practising in the district, and the work done at our
laboratory might well be extended in its scope and utility. During
the year 5,315 specimens were examined in the laboratory, and
of these 5,093 were swabs taken for the diagnosis of diphtheria
infection.
HOUSING.
General Considerations.—On the whole the house property
in the Borough is of very good quality. This is largely due to
the fact that in the past our building by-laws have been properly
enforced. There are no houses in the Borough that are so
dangerous or injurious to health as to be unfit for human habitation,
and there are no insanitary areas.
In parts of Highgate, Crouch End and Hornsey there are
collections of houses occupied in many instances by more than
one family, and some houses exist which the tenants seem to
make no effects to keep reasonably clean. Sanitary defects in
these and other houses have been brought to our notice from
time to time throughout the year, and it may be said generally