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 1911
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]
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82
In 21 instances statutory notices had to be served before the work
required was done, and in one case police court proceedings were
taken. In several instances where the rooms were dirty or verminous
the outworker was seriously warned, and in two instances work was
stopped until the conditions were improved.
Four rooms used as workrooms were unfit to be so used, and the
tenant found other premises.
Infectious Disease.—A list of the cases of notifiable infectious diseases
which occurred in families engaged in the making, &c., of wearing
apparel, are given below. It was unnecessary to stop their work except
temporarily during the time disinfection was being carried out:—
| Smallpox. | Scarlet Fever. | Diphtheria. | Typhoid Fever. | Erysipelas. | Total. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clothing trades :— | – | 6 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 20 |
| – | 6 | 24 | 1 | 1 | 32 | |
| (c) Persons from infected houses employed in clothing business elsewhere | – | 49 | 17 | – | 1 | 67 |
| – | 61 | 50 | 5 | 3 | 119 | |
| Other home workers trades .. | – | 1 | 1 | – | – | – |
In connection with Laundries there were cases in each of the above
three classes:—
(a)
(b)
(c)
In Receiving Shops
–
—
—
Mangling only
–
—
—
Washing, Ironing, &c.
–
Diphtheria, 1;
Scarlet Fever, 1
Scarlet Fever, 1
There are 33 Laundries in which washing is done, besides which
there are a number of private houses in which mangling only is done.
Notices were served to remedy various defects found on inspection.
These comprised:—
In connection with
| (a) | (b) | (c) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| In Receiving Shops | – | ||
| Mangling only | – | ||
| Washing, Ironing, &c. | – | Diphtheria, 1; Scarlet Fever, 1 | Scarlet Fever, 1 |