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 1924
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, Metropolitan Borough]
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89
Miss J. M. Anderson appointed Health Visitor.
Miss E. B. Bagnell „ „
Miss V. B. Woodruff „ „
Miss L. Auger, Health Visitor, resigned.
Mrs. E. Perryman engaged as whole-time cleaner, Argyle Square Centre.
The following held temporary appointments as Health Visitors during the year:—
Miss Rodwell. Miss D. Landray. Mrs. H. Parsons.
CHEMICAL AND BACTERIOLOGICAL WORK.
The Borough Council has an arrangement with the Bacteriologist of University College for the examination, at the expense of the Council, of material sent by medical practitioners in connection with suspected (St. Pancras) cases of diphtheria, typhoid fever and tuberculosis. The following specimens were examined during the year: —
| Nature of Specimen. | Positive. | Negative. | Total. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swabs for Diphtherise Bacilli | 135 | 727 | 862 | ||
| Blood, re Typhoid Fever | 1 | 11 | 12 | ||
| Sputum for Tubercle Bacilli | 48 | 348 | 396 | ||
Examinations of sputum in connection with cases attending the tuberculosis
dispensaries is carried out by the staff at the dispensaries.
Facilities for the examination of cerebrospinal fluid in suspected cases of cerebrospinal
fever, encephalitis lethargica, &c., are available 10 the Medical Officer of Health through the
London County Council laboratory, and for the examination of blood in suspected malaria
through the Ministry of Health.
The chemical work of the Public Analyst (Mr. J. Kear Colwell, F.T.C.) in connection
with the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts is given on page 80.
Section VIII.—HOUSING.
During the year ended December 31st, 1924, 108 houses were erected in the Borough.
These were all on the Holly Lodge Estate in Ward 1.
79 certificates were issued under the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, Section 48,
stating that a proper and sufficient supply of water for sanitary and domestic purposes had
been provided, showing that this number of houses had been occupied.
The building of these houses has chiefly attracted new residents to the Borough, and
has done practically nothing to remedy the overcrowding which is still so prevalent.
Cases have been discovered during the year where as many as six, seven, and in one
case, nine persons were living in one room.
The London County Council now gives special consideration with regard to vacancies
occurring in any of their blocks of dwellings to cases recommended by the Borough Medical
Officers of Health, and these extreme cases are reported for preferential treatment.