Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Report upon the public health and sanitary condition of the Parish of St. Mary, Battersea during the year1896
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small-pox badly if it should happen at some future date to come
in the way of it. Those who trust to isolation say :—Small-pox
is notified to be here, now. Let the healthy be separated from
the sick, let the latter be isolated at home, or, if they cannot be
properly attended to there, let them be removed to a suitably
isolated hospital. There can be no doubt that the latter is the
stronger position of the two; and in practice it has been found to
secure the intelligent co-operation of the public.
In accordance with the sub-head No. 2 of the reference to
the Commission, we would suggest the following as the means
other than vaccination which should be employed for protection
of a community from small-pox :—
1. Prompt notification of any illness suspected to be smallpox.
Improved instruction in the diagnosis of small-pox.
2. A hospital, suitably isolated, of adequate accommodation,
in permanent readiness, and capable of extension if
required. No other disaese to be treated at the same
time in the same place.
3. A vigilant sanitary staff, ready to deal promptly with first
cases, and, if necessary to make a house-to-house inspection.
The medical officer of health to receive such remuneration
as to render him independent of private practice.
4. Prompt removal to hospital by special ambulance of all
cases which cannot be properly isolated at home.
Telephonic communication between Health Office and
Hospital.
5. Destruction of infected clothing and bedding, and thorough
disinfection of room or house immediately after removal
of the patient.
6. Daily observation (including, where possible, taking the
temperature and inspection for rash) of all persons who
have been in close contact with the patient during his