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 1929
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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(vii) Meningismus (19).—in pneumonia and bronchitis (7), septicaemia (4),
osteomyelitis (2), influenza (2), vomiting and convulsions (1), nephritis (1), diabetes
(1), chorea (1).
(viii) Sinusitis (12). Inflammation of the middle ear and mastoid (11) with
meningitis (5) (included under head of meningitis); cerebral or cerebellar abscess (2);
sinus thrombosis (2); recovery (2); frontal sinus (1).
III. Ringworm.—1,132 specimens of hair were examined and 402, or 35.6 per
cent., were found to be infected; 342 with small spore fungus, 52 with large spore,
and 8 with favus.
IV. Miscellaneous examinations included 11 swabs or smears from the vagina
(gonococcus identified in one). Six specimens of urine for chemical and microscopical
tests; three specimens of faeces, in which B. dysenteriae were not found;
one specimen of sputum (no tubercle bacilli found). Smears from case of conjunctivitis,
in which Koch-Weeks bacillus was identified.
V. Special investigations.—(a) Milk.—Six samples from supplies to school
centres were examined for numerical bacterial content.
(b) Disinfectants.—Bactericidal tests with preparations of lysol and cyllin in
various dilutions were applied to B. coli communis, Staphylococcus aureus and
streptococcus.
(c) Water.—(i) Water supplies.—Supplies at the County Hall (from nine
separate points), and a control from the main at Critchley-street, and also the tap
supply for a ward at Colney Hatch Mental Hospital, were examined bacteriologically
and reported upon.
(ii) Swimming baths.—Samples from 27 swimming baths during the summer months of 1929 were examined bacteriologically, quantitatively by count of colonies, and qualitatively for presence of coliform organisms:—
| Bath. | Highest count | Lowest. | Coliform organisms. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of colonies in 1 c.c. | |||
| Tooting | 500 (August) | 5 (June) | present in 1 c.c. |
| Plumstead | one count of only | 140 (July) | „ 1/10 c.c. |
| Victoria Park | 600 (July) | 60 (June) | „ „ |
| Southwark | 90,000 (July) | 10 (June) | „ „ |
| Royal Victoria Gardens | 3,500 (July) | 20 (June) | not in 10 c.c. |
| (N. Woolwich) | |||
| Millwall | 200 (Sept.) | 12 (October | (i) present in 5 c.c. |
| (ii) not in 10 c.c. | |||
| Eltham | 13,000 (Sept.) | 6 (June) | (i) present in 1/10 c.c. |
| Brockwell | 300 (August) | 6 (June) | (i) „ 1 C.c. |
| (ii) „ 5 c.c. | |||
At the time samples were taken, none of the above baths was provided with
filtration and disinfecting plant, but disinfectants, chloride of lime or copper sulphate,
were occasionally added to the water during the summer months. Filtration and
disinfecting plants have since been installed at Southwark Park and Royal Victoria
Gardens and are being provided at Millwall and Eltham.
Filtration plants have been in use at the Peckham Rye and Highbury baths for
the past five years. Samples taken yielded the following results:—
Count in 1 c.c.
Coliform organisms.
Peckham Rye 8 colonies (May 29)
Highbury 2 „ (June 25)
present in 5 c.c.
not in 10 c.c.
Material used.—For the bactericlogical work during the year, a total of 7,000
tubes of serum, and approximately 22,500 c.c. of various nutrient media were prepared
in the laboratory.
Consultation visit.—At the request of the borough medical officers of health,
visits were paid to three private patients of medical practitioners, to assist in diagnosis
during 1929. The cases were respectively, cerebral haemorrhage, tuberculous
meningitis and paratyphoid fever.