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 1924
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]
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54
Bacteriological Laboratory.
Examinations were made as follows:—
Swabbings from throats in suspected diphtheria 556
Blood in suspected typhoid 8
Anthrax 1
Sputum for tuberculosis 474
The expenditure on the first two was £ and for tuberculosis
£65 lis. Od., including cost of outfits, postage, and telegrams in both
instances.
Disinfection.
The number of articles treated was:—
| 1919. | 1920. | 1921. | 1922. | 1923. | 1924. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rooms | 941 | 1,196 | 1,502 | 1,179 | 742 | 984 |
| Articles disinfected | 50,496 | 49,542 | 31,654 | 28,709 | 21,933 | 23,382 |
| Articles washed | 5,759 | 7,185 | 6,766 | 7,355 | 8,679 | 4,862 |
| Articles destroyed | 543 | 70 | 38 | 105 | 173 | 198 |
| Books disinfected | 77 | 42 | 212 | 173 | 215 | 425 |
| Vehicles | 2 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 3 | 3 |
In addition to the above, 465 books and 3 tons of old bedding and
rubbish from verminous houses were destroyed.
The motor van during 1924 ran 3,458 miles and carried 3,346 cwt. of
goods, the highest amount in any one day being 60 cwt. The petrol consumption
was 372 gallons, equal to 9-2 miles per gallon.
Cleansing of Persons.—The number of Westminster persons suffering
from head and body lice treated at the cleansing station was 584.
By the arrangement with the County Council, school children from
Battersea, Chelsea, Holborn, Kensington, Lambeth, St. Pancras, St.
Marylebone and the City of London were sent to the Station for cleansing ; these numbered 201 for head lice, 11 for body lice, and 14 for scabies, and are included in the following summary:—
| 1924. | Head lice. | Body lice. | Scabies. | Total. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Children | 768 | 18 | 26 | 812 |
| Adults | 9 | 47 | 5 | 61 |
| 777 | 65 | 31 | 873 |
All the lice cases were dealt with at the Station, but 7 of the scabies
cases were treated at home.