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
Stepney 1900
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Whitechapel]
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16
No inconvenience has been reported to have taken place in regard to the
water supply during the summer on the part of the two Water Companies
possessing the monopoly for supplying the District. A careful examination of
the Water Reports emanating from the Government Offices, as well as from the
Water Companies themselves, prove that the water supplied was of excellent
quality both from a chemical and from a bacteriological standpoint.
You will notice that among the samples which were submitted to the
Analyst were some purchases of beer. Both light and dark were examined;
all were found free from adulteration, and no arsenic was present.
As a Royal Commission has been appointed to investigate the whole
question of the presence of arsenic in certain manufactures of glucose which
were used for the purpose of sweetening beer, it would be unseemly for me to
discuss the question. Beer is the national beverage, and it is most important
that nothing deletereous should be added to it in the process of manufacture.
In conclusion, I append a List of the Expenses incurred in working the Sanitary Department fo»r the whole year : —
| £ | s. | d. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housekeeper's petty cash for window cleaning of house, and costs of proceedings at Police Court, etc. | 31 | 4 | 0 |
| Repairs to Disinfecting Machine,—Coals and materials for cleansing various departments | 47 | 15 | 5 |
| Registrars, for weekly returns | 29 | 14 | 4 |
| Printing, Stationery, Office Registers, etc. | 98 | 9 | 5 |
| Covers for furniture, shrouds, gas and coals at Mortuary | 23 | 11 | 6 |
| Disinfecting Machine: Overalls for men, repairs, rubbers, bags | 17 | 19 | 9 |
| Disinfectants, gummed paper, drain tests | 56 | 19 | 7 |
| £305 | 14 | 0 |
The yearly average for the past four years was ,£284 8s. 5d.
I ask attention to the small amount spent upon the item 'disinfectants,'
chiefly Kemp's Drain Tests. I could never agree to the policy of pouring
large quantities of so-called disinfectants into the sewers, it is merely wasted.
Where it is possible to do so, hand labour should bring the germicide into
contact with the surface to be cleansed, or efficient flushing with large quantities
of water should be resorted to.
The use of sulphurous acid gas, after the removal of a case of infectious
disease, may have a good moral effect upon the relatives and friends of patients,
but, personally, I have preferred to pely upon a solution of perchloride of
mercury applied to the walls and ceilings of rooms by means of large flat
brushes. I believe that by this plan disease has frequently been stopped from
spreading, and this good result has been achieved at comparatively little cost.
I regret to record the death of George Harvey, from enteric fever. The
disease was presumably contracted within the District, and in the course of his
ordinary duty. Careful, painstaking, competent and willing, it will be most
difficult to fill the gap caused by his death.
Of the other members of the Staff who were placed under my supervision,
I have nothing but praise to record. However carefully I might devise plans
for the improvement of the District, the real work was carried out by them, and
to them must be given the credit for the results which I have had the honour
and pleasure to register. I heartily wish them God speed in their work in the
future.