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
City of Westminster 1910
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]
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27 instances, when the circumstances of the case required it), and also
after 36 cases of measles, 2 chicken-pox, 27 cancer, 2 influenza,
3 mumps, 2 whooping cough, and 200 phthisis. In 56 instances the
premises, &c., were disinfected privately (28 of these being cases
of phthisis). Consequent upon the fewer cases of infectious disease
in 1910 the number of rooms and articles disinfected is much lower
than in previous years.
The owner of a house was reprimanded for sending away linen after
an infectious case without disclosing the fact; fortunately, it was
discovered before it had reached its destination.
Shelters.—One person was admitted to the temporary shelters at
Horseferry Itoad while disinfection was being carried out.
The following table gives a comparative statement of the above
work during the past seven years:—
The following table gives a comparative statement of the above work during the past seven years:—
| 1903. | 1904. | 1905. | 1906. | 1907. | 1908. | 1909. | 1910. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premises | 709 | 581 | 667 | 961 | 840 | 1,067 | 1,287 | 841 |
| Rooms | 1,039 | 935 | 1,177 | 1,627 | 1,155 | 1,568 | 1,865 | 1,284 |
| Articles disinfected | 27,766 | 29,107 | 34,703 | 47,865 | 36,115 | 31,915 | 49,843 | 26,850 |
| Articles destroyed | 126 | 52 | 151 | 195 | 1,660 | 233 | 186 | 1,651 |
| Books disinfected | 16 | 10 | 52 | 363 | 136 | 557 | 281 | 595 |
| Number admitted to shelters | 19 | 39 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 1 |
The provision at the new station of an apparatus for washing dirty
and stained articles has been found of great service; it has been utilised
for 514 articles since the opening.
Cleansing of Persons.—The Guardians have dealt with the
frequenters of their casual wards, who are the persons most troubled
with vermin, at their own establishments, and the Education Committee
has in use an apparatus at Pulteney School. The names of children
treated at this school are forwarded to me, so that the homes, bedding, &c.
may be examined and, if necessary, cleansed. Names of 22 children,
inmates of 19 houses, were received; the home conditions were found to
be unsatisfactory in 6 instances, and steps were taken to rectify them
Two children were reported to be in a verminous condition, and were
visited at their homes until the parents had cleansed them. Eight
rooms and 595 articles were fumigated on this account. Six adult
persons were given a bath and their clothing fumigated (76 articles).
Verminous Houses.—249 notices with reference to vermin in rooms
were issued on the reports of the Sanitary Inspectors; 18 of these were
fumigated with sulphur by the Council's staff, the remainder by the