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33
During the year some 1,378 examinations were made, which included the
following:—For suspected diphtheria 996, for suspected tuberculosis 248, in
connection with the diagnosis of venereal disease 69.
Disinfection.
The premises disinfected numbered 1,481. The articles removed to the Borough
Council's Disinfecting Station, totalled 25,003, and included 1,104 beds, 738
mattresses, 2,436 pillows, 682 bolsters and some 20,043 other articles such as sheets,
blankets, quilts, curtains, carpets, clothing and the like. It was necessary to destroy
two pairs of mattresses, and one bed, 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 129 occasions, in order to facilitate disinfection after removal
of small-pox cases. It is many years since the shelter has been used so frequently.
VENEREAL DISEASES.
The London County Council is the authority responsible for the provision of
facilities for the diagnosis and treatment of these diseases and special clinics are held
in various voluntary hospitals and in other institutions. None of these are actually
within the boundaries of the Borough, but those of the Metropolitan, the London,
the Royal Free and University College Hospitals, are readily accessible to the people
of Shoreditch. Lists of these centres are displayed in the Public Conveniences in
the Borough and can also be seen in the Health Department.
The London County Council also provides for doctors, laboratory facilities to
aid diagnosis, the supply of salvarsan and its substitutes, and courses of instruction
in modern methods of diagnosis and treatment. The County Council further coordinates
the work of hospitals, public health services and practitioners, and
undertakes publicity and propaganda work with regard to matters relating to venereal
disease.
Though the means for treatment are available, much educational work remains
to be done. Cases not infrequently come to the notice of the Department in which
patients recommended to one of these clinics discontinue treatment before they are
cured, thus running the gravest risk of disaster to themselves, of infecting their wife
or husband and of transmitting disease to their children.
TUBERCULOSIS.
All forms of tuberculosis are notifiable. Notifications are made on one of four
forms, A, B, C and D.
A—Notification by Doctor who makes diagnosis.
B—Notification by School Medical Inspector.
C—Notification of the admission of a case of tuberculosis to an institution.
D—Notification of the discharge of a case of tuberculosis from an institution.
By primary notifications are meant notifications on Form A or B of patients
who have not previously been notified either in this or previous years in Shoreditch.