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
Wandsworth 1953
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wandsworth, Metropolitan Borough]
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16
REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH FOR 1953
A total of 2,156 infective diseases was reported from schools in the Borough throughout the year. The numbers of each disease were:—
| Scarlet Fever | 221 | Chicken Pox | 606 |
| Diphtheria | — | Whooping Cough | 145 |
| Measles | 685 | Mumps | 426 |
| German Measles | 27 | Ringworm | 5 |
| Poliomyelitis | 2 | Scabies | — |
| Other Disease | 39 | ||
Disinfection
During the year 905 rooms were disinfected after infectious and
other disease and 339 rooms disinfested for vermin.
Bacteriological Examinations
These examinations continued to be carried out by the Camberwell
Public Health Laboratory until the closing of that laboratory on
the 30th September, when its Director, Dr. Guy Bousfield, retired.
The association of the Camberwell Laboratory with this Borough
has covered a long period, both in its private capacity prior to 1948
and in its public capacity since that year when it came under the
administration of the Medical Research Council as a Public Health
Laboratory. During the whole of this period, Dr. Bousfield has
provided an excellent personal service, giving unstinted help and
advice to this department in matters connected with bacteriological
work. The happiest relations and closest liaison have existed between
his staff and this department.
All bacteriological examinations are now carried out at the Public
Health Laboratory at County Hall under its Director, Dr. A. J. H.
Tomlinson.
The following is a summary of examinations made during the
year:—
Nose and throat swabs 319
Faeces for the typhoid and dysentery groups 652
Miscellaneous specimens 6
Total 977