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Laboratory Work
Specimens taken for bacteriological or chemical investigations, in connection particularly
with infectious disease cases, are brought daily to the Manor House and transported to the
Ealing Public Health Laboratory. The necessary investigations are carried out and results
reported simultaneously to the Medical Officer of Health and to the doctor who has submitted
the specimen from one of his patients. Details of the work carried out in 1958 are as follows:—
Faeces specimens 331
Sputum specimens 5
Blood specimens 24
Urine specimens 45
Swabs (nose, throat, ear, rectal and vaginal) 63
Disinfection
In cases of infectious disease, rooms, clothing, etc., were disinfected—rooms by sealing
and fumigating with a formalin preparation; clothing, bedding and other infected articles
remaining in the room for disinfection.
Lists of premises, articles, etc., disinfected during the year.
Rooms 11 Books 59
Beds 8 Eiderdowns 3
Blankets 20 Pillows 20
Mattresses 11 Miscellaneous articles 1
Sheets 16
Smallpox Disinfection
In the event of smallpox occurring within the district and disinfection being required on
a considerable scale, arrangements have been made whereby this could be carried out. An
agreement was made with the North-West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board whereby
in such an event the staff of St. John's Hospital, Uxbridge, would carry out this work.
Provision of Antitoxin and Vaccine Lymph
The Council provides diphtheria antitoxin and tetanus antitoxin free to local practitioners
in the district. These antitoxins are obtained from the Public Health Department during
office hours and by direct request to the Medical Officer of Health at other times. In the
event of emergency supplies of vaccine lymph being required, they are obtainable at very
short notice.
25
Scabies and Lice
During 1958 one case of infestation with scabies and one contact of this case were brought
to the Public Health Department for cleansing. Baths and treatment were arranged at
Hammersmith Cleansing Station by courtesy of Hammersmith Borough Council. Table XI
gives details of head inspections in schools. The figures here are still disappointing. For the
years before 1957 it has been possible to record an improvement in the number of children
found to be infested with vermin, but in 1958, although 3,000 fewer children were examined,
the number found to be infested rose from 28 in 1956 to 68 in 1957, and again in 1958 with
1,168 fewer examinations carried out, 30 infested heads were discovered.