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
Orpington 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Orpington]
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The following number of specimens from this area have been examined during the year;—
| Positive | Negative | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swabs for Diphtheria | 10 | 79 | 89 |
| Sputa for Tubercle | 27 | 144 | 171 |
| Widals for Typhoid | — | 3 | 3 |
| Urine and faeces for organisms of the Typhoid group | 3 | 7 | 10 |
| TOTALS | 40 | 233 | 273 |
In addition, the following emergency swabs for diagnostic purposes were examined by Dr. J. Byers, at the Laboratory of the West Kent Joint Isolation Hospital:—
| Positive | Negative | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swabs for Diphtheria | 25 | 204 | 229 |
| Swabs for Hæmolytic Streptococci | 1 | 4 | 5 |
DRAINAGE.
The houses in the main portion of the District are on the
water carriage system, most of the houses being connected to
the public sewers. Where no sewers are available, most of the
houses are drained into cesspools. In addition there are 294
houses with pail closets, and 13 houses with privy middens or
earth closets.
At the end of the year the number of houses with sanitary
conveniences in use were approximately:—
Houses with water closets draining into the
sewer 10,767
Houses with water closets draining to cesspools 3,005
Houses with earth closets or privy middens13
Houses with pail closets 294
The main drainage for the greater part of Downe was completed
during the year
Main drainage was also provided at one street in the
Farn borough Ward.
The preliminary work is well in hand in connection with
the provision of main drainage in the greater portion of the
Biggin Hill Ward.