Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Holborn Borough]
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to three days before his removal to the smallpox hospital; 31 out of 47
remaining residents of the common lodging house were vaccinated. Information
of the destination of inmates leaving the common lodging house up to the end
of the incubation period was forwarded to the Medical Officers of Health of
the districts concerned. The common lodging house was visited daily in order
to keep the residents under observation. No secondary case occurred.
During the greater part of the year, smallpox was more or less prevalent in
London and the surrounding districts. In addition to cases notified in the County
of London a considerable number notified in areas outside the County were of
persons who worked in the Metropolitan area, information of such cases giving
particulars of contacts were distributed by the Medical Officers of Health of the
London County Council to Metropolitan Medical Officers of Health.
Three hundred and fifty-seven information circulars respecting such cases
were received under this arrangement; in 22 cases contacts living or working
in Holborn were disclosed in the information supplied. These were visited at
their homes or places of employment, were kept under observation and vaccination
or revaccination was advised where such had not been done within the previous
five years.
Information of 14 passengers or staff arriving on vessels on which smallpox
had occurred during the voyage, or bad come from infected ports, was received
and where practicable visits were made for keeping such contacts tinder observation.
In ten cases the addresses given in this Borough were at hotels or
boarding houses, two were business offices and two dwelling houses. In five
cases the names could not be traced at the addresses given. Tn three cases the
travellers had left the addresses given before the visits could be paid, no information
being available as to their destinations. Two cases were seen and found to be in
good health and in four cases the travellers who were advised to be revaccinated
declined to take this course as they were Christian Scientists.
The following table kindlv supplied by the Vaccination Officer of the Holborn Union on the 15th February, 1929, gives information respecting vaccination in the Borough of Holborn: —
Total Number of Births | Vaccinated | 1 lied before Vaccination | Cons. Objectors | Insusceptible | Postponed by Medical Certificate | Removed. No information as to Vaccination | Temporarily unaccounted for | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Holborn Sub-Distuiot : 12 months ended 30th June, 1928 | 192 | 81 | 15 | 33 | 0 | 21 | 23 | 19 |
St. Giles and TCloomsbiiiiy Sub-District : 12 months ended 30th June, 1928 | 117 | 53 | 12 | 0 | 13 | 15 | 10 | |
309 | 134 | 4 y | 0 | 38 | 29 | |||
43% |
As in previous years a leaflet respecting the advantages of vaccination was sent to
the parents of all infants born in, or belonging to, the Borough.