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
Finchley 1954
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Finchley]
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Bacteriological Work
The following table shows the number and nature of the specimens examined at the Central Public Health Laboratory, Colindale, during 1954.
| Positive | Negative | |
|---|---|---|
| Throat/Nose Swabs: | ||
| Diphtheria Bacilli | 147 | |
| Haemolytic Streptococci | 34 | |
| Vincent's Angina | - | |
| Faeces: | ||
| Sonne Dysentery | 3 | 93 |
| Salmonella | 6 | |
| Protozoa | ||
| Sputum: | ||
| T.B. Smear | 1 | 59 |
| Other Organisms | 2 | |
| Whooping Cough: | ||
| Cough Plate | 10 | |
| Post-nasal Swab | - | |
| 46 | 309 |
Tuberculosis
Six persons died from tuberculosis during 1954, giving a
death rate of 0.086 per 1,000 population. This is the lowest rate
ever recorded.
The number of new cases of the disease is the lowest recorded
since 1936. The case rate per 10,000 population was 7.85, the
lowest recorded.
Last year 3 children of school age, and one under school age
were found to be suffering from tuberculosis of the lungs—7.7%
of the total cases at all ages.
Close co-operation between the Public Health Department,
the Area Health Department and the Chest Clinic in the constant
search for possible sources of infection in new cases of tuberculosis
continues.
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