[Report 1933] / Medical Officer of Health, Darlington County Borough.

  • Darlington (England). County Borough Council.
Date:
1933
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1933] / Medical Officer of Health, Darlington County Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    47/116 (page 43)
    CANCER. Several meetings of the North of England Council have been held in Newcastle and the Radium Institute has been set up at the Royal Victoria In- firmary, the line of investigation to be carried out by Dr. F. Dickens and being the bio-chemical examination of pre-cancerous states, during the coming seven years. A table has been appended showing that of the 99 eases in 1933, the majority 52, were of the bowel, and that 49 were male and 50 female. The late diagnosis and inaccessibility of bowel cancer in the majority of cases point to the necessity for some such investigation as Dr. Dickens is embarking upon. The mortality in Darlington whtfflh has always been below that of England and Wales, Was I'l per 1,()()() compared with 1‘5. Steps are taken to inform the medical practitioners, and also keep the public informed of the early signs and symptoms and the facilities at our local hospitals and at Newcastle. PREVENTION OF BLINDNESS. No action has been taken under Sect. 66 of the Public Health Act, 1925, as the Voluntary Institutions in the town have been a'cailable for all cases recjuiring glasses. CLEANSING AND DISINFECTION OF VERMINOUS PERSONS, &c. The general standard of cleanliness is very much improved since the introduction of practical school hygiene into the curriculum. It is very rare for occasion to arise to take strong measures, as the visit of the Health Visitor, followed by that of the Sanitary Inspector, is sufficient to rouse the con- science. Infestation with bugs is receiving special attention and I am anxious that persistent offenders should be severely handled, in order to protect our new property arising all over the town. The disinfection of houses after infectious disease is a matter which is now not pressed in the old-fashioned way. Rather, the importance of thorough cleansing with soap and water is emphasised, the bedding and clothing being removed for steam disinfection at the Infectious Diseases Hospital in the Ambulance with the patient. Control of rats and insect pests is kept up systematically throughout the year by supervision of tips, water courses, waste land and such haunts. VENEREAL DISEASES. No change has taken place in the Scheme since last year. The Clinic at the General Hospital was staffed by Dr. McFarlane, Deputy Medical Officer of Health and Venereal Diseases Officer, a full-time Orderly and a part-time Nurse from the Hospital Staff. The wooden building is unsatisfactory, but it is hoped that new quarters will be shortly available. Very few general practitioners can afford the time or have sufficient experience to treat these cases adequately, and in addition our ascertainment of infected families by our maternity and school services is now much more complete. The Clinic also serves Durham and North Riding patients. Two beds are provided in the Hospital for treatment. Laboratory work is done at the Clinic aiul at the Armstrong College.