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
Richmond upon Thames 1946
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Richmond]
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10
SECTION B—GENERAL PROVISION OF
HEALTH SERVICES
LABORATORY WORK
The standing arrangements with Richmond Royal Hospital
continued to operate satisfactorily during the year.
The following table gives particulars of the specimens examined:—
| Disease Suspected | Nature of Specimen | Result | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Positive | Negative | |||
| Diphtheria | Swabs from Throat and Nose | 4 | 168 | 172 |
| Tuberculosis | Sputa | 3 | 37 | 40 |
| Hæmolytic Streptoccus | Swabs from Throat and Nose | 4 | 2 | 6 |
| Other Diseases | 10 | 39 | 49 | |
| Total | 21 | 246 | 267 | |
In the case of the four swabs which produced a culture of
C. Diphtherias, subsequent tests proved these organisms to be
non-virulent and incapable of producing diphtheria.
Milk and Water
Routine samples of milk and water were examined at The
London and Home Counties Public Health Laboratories, 66 Victoria
Street, E.C.4.
Ice Cream
Following the outbreak of typhoid fever in Aberystwyth
which resulted from the consumption of infected ice-cream,
arrangements were made for routine sampling of ice-cream produced
and sold in the Borough. For the examination of these
samples advantage was taken of the facilities offered by the
Ministry of Health Public Health Laboratories, Epsom. Though
these bacteriological examinations can only be used as a guide by
the Department, they have been of great value. There is no doubt
that the standard of ice-cream production has been much
improved by these means.