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20
EXAMINATION FOR PATHOGENIC BACTERIA.
Any medical practitioner desiring examinations of specimens for pathogenic
bacteria in cases of suspected infectious disease occurring amongst their patients
residing in the City, should forward them to the Medical Officer of Health at the
Guildhall. Arrangements have been made for free examination, and the results
obtained are communicated as speedily as possible.
During the year the following specimens were so dealt with. It will be seen
that positive results were obtained in 17.8 per cent. of these cases.
Result.
Specimen. Disease suspected. Positive. Negative.
36 Swabbings from throats Diphtheria 6 30
20 Sputum Tuberculosis 4 16
Of the 36 swabbings from throats, 12 were received from the Central Foundation
School for Girls, Spital Square, E.C. These swabs were sent to the City
Pathologist in accordance with the arrangements between the City Corporation
and the London County Council. This school is situate partly in the City and
partly in the Metropolitan Borough of Stepney, and pupils attend from many
parts of the East and North-East of London, and also Boroughs and Urban districts
in Essex and Middlesex.
DISTRIBUTION OF DIPHTHERIA ANTI-TOXIN AND
ANTI-INFLUENZA VACCINE.
Provision has been made for the distribution of Diphtheria anti-toxin in accordance
with the Diphtheria Anti-toxin (London) Order, 1910, and also for the distribution
of anti-influenza vaccine in accordance with the suggestion contained
in the letter from the Ministry of Health, dated 20th December, 1919.
Under neither of these arrangements have applications for supplies been
received during 1923.
CENTRAL LABORATORY AND BACTERIOLOGICAL EXAMINATIONS.
The Metropolitan Boroughs Standing Joint Committee during the early
part of the year had before them a proposal for the provision of a Central Laboratory
at which all bacteriological work of the Metropolitan Borough Councils could
be carried out.
In order that they might be in a position fully to consider the points involved,
they communicated with, amongst others, the City Corporation and the subject
was referred to me to report upon.
It is possible that some advantage might accrue in the case of routine examinations,
but the number of routine examinations carried out for City purposes is
exceedingly small. On the contrary, much of the work done by Sir Frederick
Andrewes for the Corporation is of a special character and the advantage of having
a specialist of repute personally to conduct such examinations is obvious, especially
when thousands of pounds are often involved in the issue.
The Sanitary Committee after carefully considering the matter came to the
conclusion that the establishment of a Central Laboratory would not, for their
purposes, be such a satisfactory method as the arrangement already in force.
VENEREAL DISEASES.
The following is a brief summary of the work carried out at the Special Treatment
Centre for Venereal Diseases during the year 1923:—
At the beginning of the year 461 males and 141 females were registered on the
books as receiving treatment, which compares with 452 males and 150 females at
the beginning of the previous year. It will be observed that the total number of
persons in each of the two years is the same. Of these patients, 256 males and 92
females were under treatment for syphilis and 205 males and 49 females for gonorrhœa.
New patients admitted totalled 505 as compared with 583 in the previous year,
and 758 in 1921 and 1,053 in 1920. 35 males and 16 females suffering from syphilis
discharged themselves before completing the first course, and 40 males and 18
females after completing the first course, but before completion of treatment.
27 males and 9 females completed treatment, but failed to submit themselves to
final test; 10 males and 2 females were transferred to other centres, whilst 13
males and 5 females were discharged after completion of treatment and observation.