London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Barnes 1913
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Barnes]
This page requires JavaScript
38
Sanitary Administration.
BACTERIOLOGY.
The following Table shows the results of Bacteriological Examinations carried out at the hospital during 1913.
| Result. | Diphtheria. | Typhoid Fever. | Pulmonary Tuberculosis. | Other Diseases. | Totals. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Positive | 79 | 1 | 87 | — | 167 |
| Negative | 109 | 3 | 77 | — | 189 |
| Totals | 188 | 4 | 164 | — | 356 |
These examinations exceed those made in 1912 by nearly 100.
With regard to Syphilis and Cancer, a local authority would
spend money to great advantage if they would sanction a small
expenditure for the purpose of sending specimens of blood and
sections of tumour tissue to a clinical laboratory for examination
and report, to aid the general practitioner in the early diagnosis of
these two virulent diseases.
It is problematical how far disinfection does good in controlling
infectious diseases like Scarlet Fever and Diphtheria, as in both
cases the personal or human factor seems to predominate over the
material factor. This is shown by the number of cases occurring in
members of the same family during 1913 in spite of the disinfection
of the whole of the premises, clothing and bedding. I have no
doubt that Scarlet Fever "carriers" are just as prevalent as
Diphtheria "carriers," and that in the majority of cases the patients
are those suffering from enlarged tonsils, or who have adenoids or
an excess of adenoid tissue in the nose and throat.
MILK.
So long as the British public is content to drink the fourpenny
opaque substance called milk, so long will sophistication and
adulteration of that important article of food go on. When the