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enteric fever, 251 for tuberculosis and 36 for gonorrhoea. Thirty Wassermann
tests were made, two samples of faeces and two of urine were examined, five specimens
of cerebrospinal fluid, three specimens for organisms and one for blood culture were
also examined.
Positive results were obtained in 137 of the examinations for diphtheria organisms,
36 of those for tubercle bacilli, six of the examinations for gonococci and in nine of
the Wassermann tests.
In addition to the above some 706 bacteriological examinations were made at the
Royal Chest Hospital in connection with the work at the Tuberculosis Dispensary.
DISINFECTION.
The premises disinfected numbered 1,074; the articles removed to the Borough
Disinfecting Station to be there disinfected totalled 11,713 and included 969 beds,
837 mattresses, 2,069 pillows, 530 bolsters and some 7,308 other articles such as
sheets, blankets, quilts, curtains, carpets, clothing and the like. It was necessary
to destroy one pair of mattresses which were so dilapidated and contaminated as to
render it inadvisable to return them. These were replaced with new.
THE SHELTER.
The accommodation provided under Section 60 (4) of the Public Health (London)
Act, 1891, was in use on three occasions during the year under consideration:—
One family in which occurred a case thought at first, as described
already, to be a case of small-pox was admitted to the Shelter while the house
was disinfected.
A family consisting of man, wife and five children were allowed to
occupy the Shelter while the drains at their house were reconstructed in
accordance with requirements of the Health Committee.
A man was admitted to the Shelter in order that his clothes might be
disinfected.
PUBLIC MORTUARY.
The bodies of 128 persons were deposited in the mortuary and inquests were
held in 117 instances. In connection with these inquests 65 post-mortem examinations
were made at the mortuary. No infectious bodies were removed to the mortuary
by sanitary authority.
WATER SUPPLY.
The Meteorological Table for London deduced from observations at Greenwich,
under the Astronomer Royal, issued by the Registrar General for 1926, shows a
rainfall for the year of approximately 29.8 inches, which is above the average.
In accordance with Section 49 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, communications
were received from the Metropolitan Water Board as to water supplies
being cut off in respect to six premises: in five instances on account of non-payment
of rates, and in one because water was not required.