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

Wimbledon 1931

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wimbledon]

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Table: Disinfection. —The following table shows the number of rooms and articles disinfected:—

Disinfection. —The following table shows the number of rooms and articles disinfected:—

Disease.Bedding Disinfected.Clothing.No. of Rooms Disinfected.Totals.
Mattresses.Palliasses and Counterpanes.Beds.Pillows and Bolsters.Blankets and Sheets.DressesSuits.Other Articles.
Scarlet Fever325142126381185406628701225400
Diphtheria128941426545012271539902619
Typhoid Fever105...1573......1613267
Erysipelas1316137671124015391
Tuberculosis473915144153...322469694
Cancer1512668322...7425234
Pneumonia and Influenza84...2012......20670
Small pox12132...23317
Vermin3511015......95295
Sundries12824134013444...407101361
Totals67834363160123335999554742511,148

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Details of this work are given in the report of the Chief
Sanitary Inspector. It will be noted that 425 rooms and
10,723 articles of bedding, wearing apparel, etc., were disinfected
by the Public Health Department.
Speaking generally, infectious diseases are chiefly spread
by mild unrecognised cases and "carriers" and not by
inanimate objects. Experience has shown that thorough
cleansing with soap and water together with the free
admission of sunlight and fresh air into infected rooms is a
safe and wholesome procedure to adopt. The modern tendency
is to rely less upon the older methods of disinfection.
50