View report page

47
Teale at the University College Hospital Medical School.
In order to enable practitioners to receive reports upon specimens without
delay, a box has been placed on the front steps of the Town Hall into
which specimens may be put between 12 noon and 7 p.m. At 7 p.m. the
specimens are then taken by messenger to the laboratory. Under this
arrangement the report upon a throat swab sent in this way is telephoned
to the doctor the following morning.
During the year some 1,388 examinations were made, which included
the following :—For suspected diphtheria 775, for suspected tuberculosis
247, in connection with the diagnosis of venereal disease 80.
Disinfection.
The premises disinfected numbered 1,006. The articles removed to the
Borough Council's Disinfecting Station totalled 12,837, and included
858 beds, 457 mattresses, 1,755 pillows, 508 bolsters and some 9,259 other
articles such as sheets, blankets, quilts, curtains, carpets, clothing and the
like.
The Shelter.
The accommodation provided under Section 60 (4) of the Public Health
(London) Act, 1891, was in use on 1 occasion, in order to facilitate disinfection
after the removal of a smallpox case.
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 times at which these clinics are open will be found on page 9 of
this Report.
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 co-ordinates the work of hospitals, public health
services and practitioners, and undertakes publicity and propaganda work
with regard to matters relating to venereal disease.
On 26th February, Dr. R. A. Lyster, Chairman of the Society for the
Prevention of Venereal Disease, gave a lecture in the Town Hall. The
lecture, which consisted of a clear and full exposition of the point of view
taken by this Society, was followed with keen interest by a somewhat small
d2