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
Finsbury 1905
Report on the public health of Finsbury 1905 including annual report on factories and workshops
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66
period up to 8 years. In 142 cases it has been possible to make
exact enquiries into the number of rooms occupied by the patient at
the time immediately before death or removal to an institution.
25 deaths occurred in one room tenements.
74 „ „ two „
21 „ ,, three „
22 „ ,, four rooms or more.
The number of cases of phthisis occurring in houses where other persons had been notified as suffering from, or had died from the disease, was as follows:—
| Number of previous cases of Phthisis notified in former years, or having died in same house. | Totals. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| One. | Two. | Three. | Four. | Five. | ||
| Notifications in 1905 | 25 | 12 | 4 | — | — | 41 |
| Deaths in 1905 | 29 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 47 |
| Totals | 54 | 21 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 88 |
From this table it will be evident that 47 deaths or 32.1 per
cent. of the total deaths occurred in houses already infected.
Though the majority of these cases were probably infected by
members of their own family, they demonstrate none the less the
urgent necessity of disinfection, education of the patient, and if
the means were available, of an efficient and extensive scheme of
isolation and sanatorium training to this end.
Preventive Measures.—1. Each case of the disease
notified to us has been visited and advised as to precautions which
should be taken to avoid dissemination of the disease. Printed
leaflets of advice have also been left, and a card to the following
effect:—
To Prevent Consumption.
1. Keep the windows always open at the top day and night, and
the room well ventilated. Never let it get "stuffy."
2. Keep the room very clean.