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conditions of admission of patients to smallpox hospitals.
The London County Council, who are responsible for hospital accommodation for
Small-pox cases in London, decided that every precaution should be taken to ensure that
a diagnosis of Small-pox is established before a patient is admitted to a receiving station,
and with this object in view, the Council maintains a panel of Small-pox consultants, whose
services are available at any time for the assistance of the medical officer of health of the
area in which the patient resides. In the past it has occurred that application is received
for admission of a case without reference to the borough medical officer of health, and, on
occasions, the diagnosis of Small-pox has not been confirmed. Consequently, unnecessary
expense and inconvenience has been incurred which might have been avoided had a consultant
been called in. In the hope of avoiding such cases as this, the County Council have
given instructions that application for the admission of a Small-pox case shall only be
considered after the services of a consultant have been obtained.
In these circumstances I deemed it advisable to communicate appropriate information
on this subject to medical men practising within the City of London.
admission of cases of erysipelas into infectious disease hospitals.
In view of the fact that the London County Council decided to admit cases of Erysipelas
into their infectious disease hospitals instead of, as hitherto, into their general hospitals,
City medical practitioners were acquainted of the alteration in the arrangements.
small-pox.
No case of Small-pox occurred during the year in persons resident or employed in the City.
distribution of diphtheria anti-toxin and anti-influ enza vaccine.
Provision was made some years ago for the distribution of Diphtheria anti-toxin free
of charge to medical practitioners who apply for it. Only two applications were received
during 1937. Similar provision is made in regard to anti-Influenza vaccine, but no application
was received during the year.
public health (prevention of tuberculosis) regulations, 1925.
It has not been necessary during the year to take any action in regard to the abovementioned
Regulations, which provide for the exercise of some control over persons suffering
from Tuberculous affections and engaged in certain occupations associated with the milk trade.
provision of insulin.
Under the powers provided by Section 227 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936,
the Corporation have, at the request of the authorities of the University College Hospital,
supplied, at regular intervals, insulin to one patient resident in the City and in attendance
at that hospital. This is the first patient, so far as I am aware, in regard to whom such
powers have been put into operation in the City, and the provision has been continuous
since 1930.
nursing provisions.
measles, encephalitis lethargica, cerebro-spinal fever and influenza.
No application has been received during 1937 in connection with the scheme which
has been approved in connection with the provision of nursing accommodation for the
above-mentioned affections. An expenditure of £25 per annum in connection with complicated
cases of measles, encephalitis lethargica and cerebro-spinal fever, and of £30 per annum
on provision of medical assistance and nursing attendance in necessitous cases of influenza,
has been approved by the Corporation.
examination of pathogenic bacteria.
Arrangements have been made for free bacteriological examination by Dr. L. P. Garrod,
who is in charge of the Bacteriological Department at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, at the
request of medical, practitioners, in cases of suspected infectious disease or food poisoning
occurring amongst patients residing in the City. City practitioners have been informed
of these facilities, and the result is communicated to them immediately it has been
ascertained.