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
Malden and Coombe 1940
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Malden & Coombe]
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15
GENERAL PROVISION OF HEALTH SERVICES IN
THE AREA.
Laboratory Facilities.
The cost of bacteriological investigations required by
medical practitioners in diphtheria, enteric fever, tuberculosis
and certain other special cases is defrayed by the
Council.
The bulk of this work is carried out by the Pathologist
at Kingston Victoria Hospital.
The following table shows the number of examinations during the past year:—
| Disease. | Results. | Totals. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Positive. | Negative. | |||
| Tuberculosis | Sputa | 11 | 41 | 52 |
| Scarlet Fever | Swabs | — | 4 | 4 |
| Diphtheria | Swabs | — | 110 | 110 |
| Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis | Swabs | 6 | 90 | 96 |
| Typhoid and Paratyphoid | Faeces | — | 9 | 9 |
| do. | Blood | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| do. | Urine | — | 1 | 1 |
| Other | Swab | — | 1 | 1 |
| Totals | 18 | 260 | 278 | |
In addition one specimen of tinned salmon and one of butter
were submitted for examination with negative results.
A number of samples of milk were submitted for
bacterial count or the presence of tuberculosis, details of
which will be found in the report of the Sanitary
Inspector.
There has been no change in the general provision
of health services as recorded in my annual report for
1938.