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
Chislehurst 1953
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Chislehurst]
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48
SECTION F.
PREVALENCE OF, AND CONTROL OVER
INFECTIOUS AND OTHER DISEASES.
Three hundred and one visits were made to notified cases of
infectious disease, etc.
On the removal of a case to Hospital, release from quarantine
(home cases) or in other necessary cases, disinfection was immediately
carried out by spraying rooms and their contents with
formalin, the clothing and bedding being steam disinfected at the
disinfecting station. Public library books found in any premises
in which infectious or contagious disease occurred were also
disinfected by formalin vapour in a special metal chamber.
The disinfections carried out during the year were as follow
| Fumigation. | Sprayed | Steam Disinfected. | Destroyed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rooms | 60 | 170 | — | — |
| Mattresses | — | — | 203 | 17 |
| Pillows | — | — | 438 | 1 |
| Blankets | — | — | 566 | — |
| Library Books | — | 77 | — | — |
| Clothing, batches of | - | 2 | — | — |
One thousand, eight hundred and sixty-two cases of infectious
diseases (excluding tuberculosis) were notified during 1953. as
against two thousand, two hundred and eighteen during 1952.
There were no epidemics of a serious nature during 1953.
Smallpox.
No cases were notified during the year, but a few suspected
contacts came under supervision during the incubation period.
The County Medical Officer has furnished the following figures showing the number of persons in the area who were vaccinated against smallpox during 1953.
| Year of Birth. | Primary Vaccination. | Re-vaccination. |
|---|---|---|
| 1953 | 499 | — |
| 1952 | 326 | — |
| 1951 | 14 | 3 |
| 1950 | 17 | 4 |
| 1949 | 15 | 2 |
| 1948 | 16 | 4 |
| 1947 | 6 | 4 |
| 1946 | 5 | 2 |
| 1945 | 3 | 2 |