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
Barnes 1911
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Barnes]
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Sanitary Administration of the District. 37
TABLE H.
Work done during 1911 with relation to infectious diseases.
| BARNES. | MORTLAKE. | TOTALS. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visits and inspections in consequence of notifiable disease | 171 | 205 | 376 |
| Disinfections performed | 51 | 59 | 110 |
| Lots disinfected by steam at the Isolation Hospital | 60 | 63 | 123 |
| No. of Notices served | 19 | 25 | 44 |
| No. of Notices complied with | 18 | 22 | 40 |
CHEMICAL EXAMINATION.
One sample of water from the pond on Barnes Green was
submitted to a chemical analysis during the year. The result of
this analysis shewed that the water was subjected to a considerable
amount of contamination, mainly vegetable in character.
BACTERIOLOGICAL EXAMINATIONS.
The Council decided in May that the Medical Officer of Health
should make the examination of specimens submitted from medical
practitioners for diagnosis. In June this facility was extended to
include the examination of sputum from cases or suspected cases
of Pulmonary Tuberculosis.
These examinations are made at the Council's laboratory at the
Isolation Hospital, and the results are immediately communicated
to the doctors, in the case of a positive finding, by telephone.
The importance of a bacteriological examination as an aid to
diagnosis, in doubtful cases, cannot be over-estimated. In each of the
diseases in following table it is sometimes necessary to delay for a day
or two before a clinical examination reveals the disease, whereas