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
Southall 1940
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Southall]
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The Council affords facilities to all medical men practising in the district for
the examination of pathological specimens, and this work is carried out by the Lister
Institute of Preventive Medicine.
The following table shows the work done during the year 1940 (exclusive of work
done for the Isolation Hospital).
Table No. 10.
| Positive. | Negative. | |
|---|---|---|
| Swabs for diphtheria | 33 | 339 |
| Sputa for tubercle | 19 | 94 |
| Wasserman reaction | - | 4 |
| Swabs for haemolytic streptococci | 1 | - |
| Miscellaneous | 1 | - |
| Total Examinations | 54 | 437 |
Ambulance Facilities.
For Infectious Cases.
A Bedford motor ambulance, purchased in 1939, is in use for conveying infectious
patients to hospital and for disinfection work.
For non-infectious and accident cases.
Two motor ambulances under the charge of the Chief Officer of the Fire Brigade
are provided by the Council for the use of residents, to remove non-infectious and
accident cases to hospital and for other ambulance work.
Efficient service continues to be rendered, and is quite adequate for peace-time
requirements.
The following figures show the year's working of the motor ambulances for noninfectious
and accident cases:—
Table No. 11.
| Ordinary cases removed to hospital | 1,293 |
| Accidents | 234 |
| Persons taken ill in the street | 51 |
| Out of district cases | 3 |
| i Total | 1,581 |
| Miles travelled in the year 1940 | 15,383 |
Poor Law Medical Relief.
The Relieving Officer issued 328 Medical Orders during 1940. Some of these
cases also received outdoor relief or institutional treatment.
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