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Laboratory Facilities.
I would again record my appreciation and thanks to the staff
of the Central Public Health Laboratory, both at Colindale and at
Edmonton for their unfailing assistance during the year. Once
again, we did not have to call upon the Laboratory to any great
extent during 1956, owing to the absence of major outbreaks of
infectious disease. It is, however, very satisfactory to remember
that the Public Health Laboratory Service is available to us, and
that any calls we make upon it will be readily and sympathetically
met.
Summary of Work carried out at Central Public Health Laboratories
for the year:
Positive Negative
Swabs for diphtheria bacilli 131
Sputa for tubercle bacilli 99
Throat and Nose 344
Faeces 583
Blood 126
Urine 65
Others 136
Mortuary.
The position in regard to the Council Mortuary at the rear of
the Town Hall is still as set out in the Report for 1946, except that
we now have a firm agreement with the Prince of Wales Hospital
to accept Southgate bodies. Up to the present, no difficulties have
arisen.
Scabies and Lice.
I reported fully on this aspect of our work in the Report for
1951. The remarks set out in that Report still apply.
During 1956, three Southgate patients received treatment at
the Cleansing Station, Fore Street, Edmonton, N.9 by arrangement
with Edmonton Borough Council.
NATIONAL ASSISTANCE ACT 1948
Section 47—Removal to suitable premises of persons in need
of care and attention.
No action was taken by the Council in 1956 under this Section.
It is never pleasant, and very often most unprofitable, to take
action under Section 47 of the National Assistance Act, 1948.
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