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 1923
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, Metropolitan Borough]
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77
Miss B. M. Harris and Miss A. M. Harrop were appointed Assistant Health
Visitors on January 31st.
Miss F. Brayshaw, Assistant Health Visitor, resigned June 27th.
Mrs. J. Lynn was appointed to fill the above vacancy, August 1st.
Miss L. E. Auger was granted six months' leave of absence without salary to
undertake training for C.M.B. examination.
Miss E. B. Bagnall was appointed temporary Assistant Health Visitor to perform
Miss Auger's duties.
CHEMICAL AND BACTERIOLOGICAL WORK.
The work done in 1923 was as follow:-
| — | Total. | Positive. | Negative. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 |
Examinations of sputum have also been made at the tuberculosis dispensaries (see page 46).
Facilities for the examination of cerebrospinal fluid in suspected cases of cerebrospinal
fever, &c., are available to the Medical Officer of Health through the London County Council
laboratory, and for the examination of the blood in suspected malaria though the Ministry of
Health.
The chemical work of the Public Analyst (Mr. J. Kear Colwell, F.I.C.) in connection
with the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts is referred to on page 75.
Section VII.—OTHER SERVICES.
Cordial co-operation exists between the work of the Council and the voluntary agencies
performing work of public health and social importance. These agencies include the various
hospitals and dispensaries, the local District Nursing Associations, the Maternity Nursing
Association, the Invalid Children's Aid Association, the Charity Organisation Society, the
British Red Cross, the Soldiers' and Sailors' Families Association, the National Society for
the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, the Invalid Kitchens, the Mary Ward Settlement,
Lyndhurst Hall, &c. Voluntary agencies subsidised by the Council are referred to particularly
in Section II. of this Report (Maternity and Child Welfare).
Section VIII.—HOUSING.
The shortage of houses still constitutes the most serious public health problem in St.
Pancras.
The census returns shewed that 12,811 families were each living in one room, and 17,584
families were each living in a tenement of only two rooms.
From a health point of view the number of rooms occupied by a family is of more
importance than the number of persons living in a given area.