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
Lambeth 1902
Report on the epidemic of smallpox 1901-2 in the Borough of Lambeth
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Articles of bedding, etc., disinfected.
| Beds | 786 |
| Bolsters | 689 |
| Pillows | 1462 |
| Mattresses | 648 |
| Palliasses | 744 |
| Chair Cushions | 860 |
| Clothing (articles of) | 10610 |
| Blanke's | 1374 |
| Rugs and Mats | 71 |
| Counterpanes and Eiderdown Quilts | 772 |
| Carpets | 346 |
| Extras (Curtains, Laundry Goods, etc.) | 7654 |
| Various Sundries, too many to count, and kept in bags (bags) | 129 |
| Total | 26145 |
Articles of bedding, etc., destroyed:
| Beds | 27 |
| Bolsters | 2 |
| Pillows | 7 |
| Mattresses | 14 |
| Palliasses | 59 |
| Chair Cushions | 9 |
| Clothing | 24 |
| Carpets | 2 |
| Rugs and Mats | 4 |
| Sundries (Curtains, Rags, etc.) | 207 |
| Total | 355 |
In connection with articles of bedding, etc., destroyed, the following
goods have been replaced by the Council at a cost of
£27 4s. 9d.: —
Palliasses 51,
Flock beds 4,
Wool mattresses 2,
Bolster 1, and Pillows 2.
Despite this large amount of disinfection carried out, complaints
from owners of bedding, etc., were few and far between —£11 5s.
only having been paid as compensation for damage to disinfected
articles during the whole 12 months of the epidemic.
Stripping off of wall papers of infected rooms was considered
an important measure, and a total of 392 rooms have been
stripped, 49 by private owners and 343 by the Council's own officers
the latter at a total cost of £97 5s. 6d. It was felt to be
unfair to allow private builders' men to do this particularly dangerous
work, especially recognising the difficulty of ensuring such men
being efficiently protected by re-vaccination. It was decided,
therefore, to employ, on behalf of the Lambeth Borough Council,