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
St Pancras 1912
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, London, Borough of]
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38
III.- INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
§ 1.—SEARCH AND DIAGNOSIS.
Scorch.—An epoc-marking impetus has been given of recent years to personal
hygiene and preventive medicine by the method of search.
In inquiring into any infectious disease it is ascertained whether there are
any other persons in the house unwell, and, if so, they are advised to seek
medical advice forthwith.
In cases of consumption the health-visitor or nurse searches out contacts,
suspects, and susceptible persons and sends them to be medically examined as
to their condition and to have their symptoms or disease diagnosed.
A systematic search is now made amongst school children for any defects or
diseases present, and the search being conducted by medical practitioners the
examination and diagnosis are made at the same time.
The number of specimens of secretion, blood and sputum submitted to bacteriological tests during the year in suspected cases of Diphtheria, Typhoid, or Enteric Fever, and Tuberculosis, and the results of examination were as follows :—
| Bacillus found. | Doubtful. | Bacillus not found. | Total. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diphtheria (Secretion) | 127 | .. | 190 | 317 |
| Reaction obtained. | Doubtful. | Reaction not obtained. | Total. | |
| Typhoid (Blood) | 15 | .. | 10 | 25 |
| Bacillus Found. | Doubtful. | Bacillus not found. | Total. | |
| Tuberculosis (Sputum) | 37 | .. | 109 | 146 |