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
Ealing 1925
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Ealing]
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63
The cases of pneumonia occurred chiefly in the early and in
the late months of the year, although the month of May supplied
as many as 10 cases. Influenza was prevalent to some extent in
the first five months of the year, during which 21 of the 22 cases of
influenzal pneumonia were notified.
LABORATORY WORK.
The bacteriological laboratory deals with specimens taken not
only in the Borough, including the Isolation Hospital, but also in
the Urban Districts of Han well and Greenford.
During the year the following specimens were examined:—
| Postive Negative | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diphtheria: | Ealing | 12 | 392 | 404 |
| Isolation Hospital | 94 | 1168 | 1262 | |
| Hanwell | 5 | 171 | 176 | |
| Greenford | 2 | 4 | 6 | |
| Tuberculosis: | Ealing | 57 | 190 | 247 |
| Hanwell | 13 | 25 | 38 | |
| Greenford | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| Miscellaneous: | Ealing | 7 | 8 | 15 |
| Hanwell | 1 | — | 1 | |
| Greenford | — | — | — | |
| Totals | 192 | 1960 | 2152 | |
DISINFECTION.
During the last five years steam disinfection has been resorted
to less frequently, at a great saving in cost and with no increase in
the incidence of infectious disease. Steam disinfection of bed
clothing is resorted to when a case of diphtheria or scarlet fever has
been nursed at home, but not when the case has been removed at
once to hospital. The distinction is made because in the early
stages of the disease infection is confined to the close proximity of
the patient and has not been permitted to penetrate deeply into
the bed clothing as may occur when the case has been nursed for
some weeks at home. When the case is removed to hospital the
washable bed-linen and personal clothing is placed in a dilute