London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Hackney 1890

Report on the sanitary condition of the Hackney District for the year 1890

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Disinfection.—In consequence of the provisions of the
Infectious Diseases Notification and Prevention Acts, chiefly of
the former, the number of articles disinfected was much larger
than in 1889, the total being 2,431 against 1,058 in 1889, and
of houses disinfected 769 against 299. There were several
rooms disinfected in one house on many occasions, so that this
does not represent the entire work done. The number of beds
disinfected amounted to 380 against 120 in 1889, as will be
seen in the table. In all instances where beds, &c., are taken to
the disinfecting chamber, a superficial disinfection by sulphur is
previously made to prevent risk of infection to any person who
might come near the articles during their removal to the track.
In some cases the disinfection was done under the personal
supervision of the patient's medical attendant, who, in all such
cases, sent me a certificate of efficiency.

TABLE VIII.

Articles Disinfected for the Years 1886 to 1890.

Years.Beds.Mattresses.Palliasses.Bolsters.Pillows.Blankets.Sheets.Quilts.Other Articles.Totals.Houses Disinfected.
18869650157419529950552061040381
188711064167923818543672301032367
1888121791810828924717502111140274
18891206598624323337362291058299
18903801278232633510681393342431769

Mortuary.—The number of bodies received at the Mortuary
was again in excess of former years, as in 1888 there were 113;
in 1889, 155; and this year as many as 214. The Coroner
ordered the removal of 168 bodies for the purpose of holding
inquests, and of these 88 were taken back after the inquests
were over, 60 were retained because there was not proper
accommodation in the premises from which the bodies were
removed, and 20 were kept until the burial at the request of