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
London County Council 1928
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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remaining 18 children who were non-virulent and harmless, though still" carriers."
The chronic virulent" carriers" were then dealt with at the special hospital
clinics for which arrangements have been made during the past two to three years
with Guy's Hospital and more recently with the London and St. Mary's Hospitals.
II. Ringworm.—Specimens of hair were examined in 1,374 cases and showed
the presence of a fungus in 488 or 35.5 per cent., made up of 398 of the small spore,
and 86 of the large spore variety. Four cases proved to be favus and two were not
determined.
III. Miscellaneous. Sputum.—In 7 out of 16 specimens tubercle bacilli were
found. Blood.—Count and haemoglobin estimation in two cases showed a chlorotic
type of anaemia. Urine.—Four specimens were examined chemically and microscopically
or bacteriologically. Films from vaginal or urethral discharge.—In 6 cases
these proved negative for gonococci. Throat and nose swabbings from four maternity
nurses.—These proved negative for streptococci. Pemphigus.—One case yielded
staphylococcus aureus. Post mortem material from Brain.—Histological examination
of 5 specimens showed presence of miliary tubercles. (Highgate Hospital).
IV. Special Examinations.—(1) Swimming Bath water.—39 samples were
examined bacteriologically by quantitative count of the number of colonies
developing from 1 c.c. in plate culture after 48 hours incubation at 37° C.—and for
the presence of B. Coli in amounts ranging from 1/10 to 1 c.c.
Eleven separate swimming-baths and pools were under investigation and the
results are here tabulated.
Open-air Baths fitted with special plant for filtration, disinfection and aeration.
| No. of samples. | Highest count. No. of Colonies per c.c. | Presence of B. coli. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| (1) Highbury | 4 | 50 in July | 0 |
| (2) Peckham | 3 | 26 in July | in 1/10 c.c. but absent |
| in two other samples. |
Open-air Baths and Pools with no filtration or disinfecting plant.
Open-air Baths and Pools with no filtration or disinfecting plant.
| No. of simples. | Count of Colonies per c.c. | Presence of B coli. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highest | Lowest. | Highest. | Lowest. | |||
| (1) Brockwell | 6 | 6,300 in July | 14 in May | in | 1/10 c.c. | in 5 c.c. |
| (2) Eltham | 3 | 160 in Aug. | 11 in July | in | 1 c.c. | in 5 c.c. |
| (3) Highgate | 1 | 1,000 in | June | in | 1/10 o.c. | |
| (4) Millwall | 4 | 64,000 in July | 10 in Aug. | in | 1/10 c.c. | 0 |
| (5) Royal Victoria Gardens | 4 | 3,500 in Aug. | 52 in June | in | 1 c.c. | in 1/10 c.c. |
| (6) Southwark Park | 3 | 3,000 in July | 4 in June | in | 1/10 c.c. | in 1 c.c. |
| (7) Victoria Park | 2 | 140 in June | 60 in June | in 1/10 c.c. | in 1/10 c.c. | |
| (8) Tooting | 6 | 9,000 in Aug. | 4 in May | in | 1/10 c.c. | in 5 c.c. |
| (9) Plumstead | 3 | 500 in July | 100 in June | in | 1/10 c.c. | in 1/10 c.c. |
(2) Specimens of Sand from the sand pits in Meath Garden, Bethnal Green,
were examined bacteriologically on two separate occasions. On March 12th.—
Two samples yielded a count of approximately 100,000 colonies (chiefly moulds) per
gramme of sand, and the presence of B. Coli was shown in 1/100 gramme of sand.
On April 20th—Two samples yielded an average of 57,000 colonies per gramme of
sand, and showed the presence of B. Coli in 1/10,000 of a gramme.
(3) Milk.—Two samples of milk submitted for examination from Banstead
Mental Hospital in February were tested for the number of coliform organisms
present. Farm Milk.—Lactose fermenters (including B. Coli) numbered 1,500 per
16479 D 2