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Mortuary.—The position with regard to the Council mortuary
at the rear of the Town Hall is as set out in the report for 1946
The mortuary is still being maintained, and is available for use as
and when required. No post-mortem examinations were carried
out in the mortuary during the period under review.
Laboratory Facilities.-The arrangements set out in my Annual
Reports for 1948 and 1949, relating to laboratory facilities, remain
unaltered.
The Central Public Health Laboratory Service continues to
provide generous and expert assistance. Requests for assistance
are always willingly met, either from the branch laboratory situated
in Edmonton Town Hall, or from the Central Public Health
Laboratory at Colindale. This assistance was of particular value
in connection with the outbreak of Sonne dysentery, to which
reference will be made later in the Report. The cordial
co-operation which exists between the Laboratory Service and
the Public Health Department is undoubtedly a potent factor
maintaining the local Public Health services. I should like to take
this opportunity of thanking all those concerned for the help
afforded throughout the year. It is a source of great satisfaction
to know that the laboratory is behind us, ready and willing at
all times to answer any queries or to provide practical assistance.
Summary of work carried out at Central Public Health
Laboratories for the year 1950:
Positive Negative
Swabs for Diphtheria Bacilli — 141
Sputa for Tubercle Bacilli — 79
The following specimens were also examined:
Throat and Nose 449
Faeces 698
Urine 49
Blood 56
Others 35
Scabies and Lice.—In November, 1950, a letter was received
from Ihe Medical Officer of Health of Hornsey stating that cases
of scabies could no longer be accepted at the Hornsey Cleansing
Station, as there was no nursing staff to undertake the work. This
concluded an arrangement which had obtained since 1946, whereby
severe and recurring cases of scabies could be sent to the Hornsey
Disinfestation Centre for treatment.
Actually the number of such cases reported remains very
small. Treatment can normally be carried out by the patients
themselves, under the guidance of their medical attendants.
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