Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Report on the sanitary condition of the Borough of Bermondsey for the year 1929
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DISINFECTION.
Disinfection of premises and of articles exposed to infection
is insisted upon in all cases of notifiable infectious disease. Respect
is always had as far as possible to the convenience and comfort of
the householder. Rooms are sealed up for disinfection and beds,
bedding, clothes and other articles are removed and disinfected
at the station.
I regret to report that very little headway has been made in
connection with the new disinfecting station. Various suggestions
from the Ministry of Health have been considered, and in all
probability work on the new station will begin in the near future.
Fortunately, although the disinfecting staff are working under
great difficulties; they have been quite able to cope with the work
up to the present. The new station is to include special provision
for the cleansing of verminous children attending elementary
schools. The number of adults cleansed during the year was
73, being 6 females and 67 males. All library books are disinfected
before being returned to the library.
The following table shows the number of articles passed through the steam disinfector during the year under report:—
Beds | 1,279 |
Blankets | 3,794 |
Bolsters | 890 |
,, (cases) | 303 |
Books | 1,369 |
Carpets | 50 |
Cushions | 303 |
Mattresses | 243 |
Overlays | 870 |
Pillows | 2,621 |
Pillows (cases) | 2,228 |
Quilts | 1,688 |
Sheets | 2,253 |
Miscellaneous | 13,514 |
Verminous Clothing | 698 |
Bedding | 115 |
Hair (Bundles) | Nil |
„ (cases) | Nil |
27,101 new tabs were used to replace those taken off
mattresses, palliasses, and cushions before disinfection.
Number of rooms disinfected 2,346