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51
In addition to contacts, all cases treated in Hospital are seen as to
fitness for work or school on the first Tuesday following discharge.
Your Council have an adequate steam disinfector at Low Hall
Lane and ample transport consisting of three motor ambulances
(two by W. & G. Du Cros purchased in May, 1929, and one Crossley
purchased in January, 1925).
The newest ambulances are used for Diphtheria and Scarlet Fever
cases respectively and the oldest one for Smallpox cases. In addition
two 30-cwt. Morris Commercial Vans are used for disinfecting
purposes.
The Ambulance and Disinfecting Staff consists of four men.
During the year 1,473 premises and 14,410 articles were disinfected
and 117 articles were destroyed.
There are no facilities available for the cleansing and disinfection
of verminous persons.
MUNICIPAL LABORATORY.
The following work was carried out during the year:—
Total. Positive. Negative. Medical Health
Practitioners. Dept
Diphtheria Swabs 3,936 505 3,431 2,124 1,812
The numbers of swabs examined during the previous four years
were:—1929, 2,650; 1928, 1,913; 1927, 1,912; 1926, 1,688.
An interesting feature is that all the necessary blood serum for
cultivation of the specimens, both at Lloyd Park and at the Sanatorium,
is prepared by Mr. West, the Laboratory Assistant. During
1930 a total of 7,840 culture media were made as compared with
6,875 during 1929.
The Essex County Council also provide facilities for examination
of pathological specimens and the County Medical Officer states that
882 specimens were examined for local Practitioners during 1930,
as follows:—
Diphtheria Swabs, 294; Sputa, 549; Typhoid Specimens, 12;
Ringworm Specimens, 14; Miscellaneous Specimens, 13. Total,
882.
The totals of previous years were: 1929, 904; 1928, 876; 1927,
1,007; 1926, 1,085.
(A) SMALLPOX.
During 1930 a total of 189 cases of Smallpox was discovered in the
Borough and represented the continuation of the outbreak which
occurred late in 1929. After many years immunity from this
disease the first case was notified in September, 1929, to be followed
by nine others before the close of the year. These 10 cases showed
at least four separate sources of infection, all of which were outside
the Borough.