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
Finsbury 1950
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Finsbury Borough]
This page requires JavaScript
26
on request generally after advice has been given that it would be
advisable for it to be carried out.
During the year it was carried out in the following instances for the reasons set out:—
| Suspected Diphtheria | 4 |
| Suspected Scarlet Fever | 49 |
| Suspected Measles | 40 |
| Suspected Whooping Cough | 36 |
| Tuberculosis | 31 |
| Scabies | 5 |
| On behalf of St. Marks and other Hospitals | 15 |
| Miscellaneous | 311 |
Bedding and clothing were brought to the Disinfecting Station
in the Health Centre in these cases, and disinfected with steam.
In all, including the cases where this was carried out for the control
of vermin, 14,151 articles were treated.
Goods, mostly clothing, were also disinfected on behalf of certain export firms as follows:—
| Number of articles | 1,34,55 |
| Number of times disinfecting plant charged | 1,233 |
Mortuary.
The mortuary attached to the Health Centre remained available
for the reception of bodies throughout the year, but one body only
was received—in April. This mortuary is primarily intended for the
isolation of the bodies of those dying from infectious disease and
the early removal from overcrowded rooms of the bodies of those
dying from other conditions when this cannot otherwise be effected.
At the present time other facilities are usually made available by
undertakers and there have been no deaths from any serious infectious
disease. It is, however, of great value to have this provision for use
in an emergency.