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
Willesden 1942
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Willesden]
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15
Laboratory.
The Bacteriological Laboratory was opened for work on 1st January, 1932. It undertakes the
examination of the routine bacteriological specimens from the District, the Municipal Hospital, and other
local institutions.
Table No. 21. For the Year 1941.
| No. | Nature of Examinations. | Positive result. | Negative result. | Total. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Swabs for C. diphtherise | 256 | 1,399 | 1,655 |
| 2 | Swabs for C. diphtherise, with typing | — | — | 43 |
| 3 | Sputum, etc.— Direct examination for M. tuberculosis | 31 | 186 | 217 |
| 4 | Sputum— Concentration with antiformin | 25 | 148 | 173 |
| 5 | Blood— Widal | 32 | 11 | 43 |
| 6 | Blood— Cultures | - | - | 8 |
| 7 | Blood— Counts | - | - | 40 |
| 8 | Blood— Films | - | - | 34 |
| 9 | Blood— Chemical examinations | - | - | 28 |
| 10 | Blood— Grouping | - | - | 3 |
| 11 | Urine— Chemical examinations | - | - | 43 |
| 12 | Urine— Microscopical examinations | - | - | 57 |
| 13 | Urine— Cultural examinations | - | - | 110 |
| 14 | Faeces— Microscopical examinations | - | - | 1 |
| 15 | Faeces— Cultural examinations | - | - | 178 |
| 16 | Cerebro-Spinal Fluid— Chemical examinations | - | - | 30 |
| 17 | Cerebro-Spinal Fluid- Microscopical examinations | - | -- | 50 |
| 18 | Cerebro-Spinal Fluid— Cultural examinations | - | - | 10 |
| 19 | Swabs, etc.— Direct smears | - | - | 66 |
| 20 | Swabs, etc.— Cultures | - | - | 113 |
| 21 | Gastric contents— Test meals | - | - | 7 |
| 22 | Water— Presumptive B. coli test | - | - | 37 |
| 23 | Water— Enumeration of total organisms | - | - | 37 |
| 24 | Drugs for sterility | - | - | 7 |
| 25 | Meningococcus serological grouping | - | - | 3 |
| 26 | Streptococcus serological grouping | - | - | 4 |
| 27 | Salmonella serological identifications | - | - | 20 |
| Total .. | - | - | 3,017 |
Table No. 22.
Sources of Specimens examined 1941.
| Willesden Municipal Hospital 1,642 | Other Hospitals | 8 |
| Private Practitioners 752 | Engineer's Department | 72 |
| Municipal Health Centres 516 | ||
| Middlesex County Council Dispensary 27 | Total | 3,017 |
Schick Test and Active Immunisation against Diphtheria 1941.
(1) Nursing Staff.
During 192(5 a commencement was made in Schick Testing the Nursing Staff and immunising those
nurses who proved susceptible to diphtheria. Since that date, 17 cases of diphtheria have occurred :—
1 in 1927, I in 1928, 1 in 1929, 2 in 1930, none in 1931, 1 in 1932, none in 1933, 2 in 1934, 1 in 1935,
2 in 1936, 2 in 1937, 1 in 1938, 2 in 1939, none in 1940 and 1 in 1941.
(1) Number of cases of diphtheria occurring amongst probationer nurses during the first
eight months of 1926 9
(Before immunisation was carried out)
(2) Incidence rate per annum 45%
(Taking 30 as average number of probationer nurses)
(3) Number of cases of diphtheria occuring amongst probationer nurses from 1927 to 1941 17
(After immunisation was carried out)
(4) Incidence rate per annum 3.7%
(Taking 30 as average number of probationer nurses)
(5) Number of nurses Schick Tested (1927-1941 inclusive) 353
(6) Number of nurses giving a positive reaction 160
(7) Percentage of nurses giving a positive reaction 45.3%
(8) Number of nurses re-Schick Tested 78
(9) Number of nurses re-Schick Tested giving a positive reaction 19
(10) Percentage of nurses re-Schick Tested giving a positive reaction 24.3%