London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

View report page

Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London

Barking 1936

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Barking]

This page requires JavaScript

Text

Copy text to clipboard

23
SECTION B.
GENERAL PROVISION OF HEALTH SERVICES FOR
THE AREA.

Table: 1. GENERAL HEALTH SERVICES.(a) Laboratory Facilities.—The following table shows the routine work which has been carried out by arrangement with the Essex County Council at the Counties' Public Health Laboratories, situated in Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C.4:-

1. GENERAL HEALTH SERVICES.

(a) Laboratory Facilities.—The following table shows the routine work which has been carried out by arrangement with the Essex County Council at the Counties' Public Health Laboratories, situated in Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C.4:-

Specimen.Number examined.
Diphtheria2,082
Sputa230
Typhoid29
Milk78
Water7
General163
Total2,589

Text

Copy text to clipboard

In addition to the above, 11 biological tests were carried out to test the
virulence or otherwise of germs of the diphtheria group.
In another section of the Report mention is made of similar biological work
carried out in respect of the presence of tubercle baccilli in milk.
The laboratory facilities which have been available in previous years have
been available throughout the year under review, and in some cases these have
been extended by agreement between the County Council and those who undertake
this work for the County Council.
There has, however, been a very real need for several years past for a local
pathological unit and in the autumn of 1935 a beginning was made towards this end.
There have been many local units set up in Public Health Departments which have
never functioned efficiently, and so in order that we should start in the proper
way, I steadfastly set my face against any unsatisfactory measures.