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
Bethnal Green 1932
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Bethnal Green Borough]
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80
DISINFECTION SERVICE.
During the year, 1,500 rooms and 28,345 articles
were disinfected for various reasons, liquid Formalin
in the form of a spray being used for the purpose of
disinfecting rooms.
Two Morris motor vans are used for conveying
articles for disinfection.
The table appended gives full details of the rooms, bedding and clothing disinfected.
| No. of Rooms Disinfected | Articles of Clothing, etc. | |
|---|---|---|
| Infectious disease | 1,081 | 6,327 |
| Scabies | 61 | 2,635 |
| Verminous condition | 338 | 3,308 |
| Other conditions | 20 | 498 |
| Hospital bedding | — | 11,970 |
| 1,500 | 24,738 |
There were also 3,607 articles disinfected in the
Formalin Chamber.
No. of articles destroyed by request, 89.
Arrangements are now in operation for any
necessary disinfection to be carried out during the
week-end, one disinfector standing by for duty on
Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning.
INSECT VERMIN.
In view of the slur often cast upon residents in
the East end concerning their alleged dirty and verminous
conditions, I think it only right to report as to
the facts. There can be no doubt that, considering the
congested state of the housing of the Borough, and the
frequency with which these closely packed houses are
also overcrowded with tenants, some dirt and vermin are