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
Croydon 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Croydon]
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42
On June 7th, 1937, a laboratory was opened at Mayday
Hospital, and Dr. C. F. O'Connor was appointed whole-time
bacteriologist and pathologist. In addition, Dr. H. W. Southgate
was appointed as consultant bacteriologist and pathologist, to devote
one session a week to the work.
This laboratory takes all the specimens from Mayday Hospital
and has consequently relieved the Central Laboratory of work which
was steadily increasing. Since its establishment, the number of
speciments of all kinds sent for examination has increased, a feature
which shows that the medical officers at the hospital find it a useful
aid.
The appended table shows the work done up to the 31st December, 1937.
| Positive. | Negative. | |
|---|---|---|
| Swabs for Diphtheria | 3 | 134 |
| Sputum for T.B. | 104 | 168 |
| Pus for T.B. | - | - |
| Pus for Gonococci | 26 | 69 |
| Pus for other organisms | 36 | - |
| Blood for typhoid group | 104 | 38 |
| Faeces for typhoid group | 5 | 273 |
| Urine for typhoid group | 13 | 100 |
| Examination of pleural fluid | 21 | - |
| Examination of cerebro-spinal fluid | 15 | - |
| Test Meals | 5 | - |
| Blood for Urea | 43 | - |
| Blood for Sugar | 26 | - |
| Hair for Ringworm | 1 | 4 |
| Other examinations— | ||
| 1. Blood examinations | 276 | - |
| 2. Urine analysis and Diastase, etc. | 689 | - |
| 3. Other examinations | 80 | - |
| 1,447 | 786 |