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

Kensington 1903

Report of the Medical Officer of Health for the four weeks, March 1st to March 28th, 1903...

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59
Theoretically the proper course would be to disinfect after a first
case —though it will generally be ineffectual to prevent spread—and
after the last, when, the fire having gone out for want of fuel, it
matters not whether disinfection be done or not.
A question will soon arise as to the extent to which disinfection
should be carried out ? whether of infected rooms and contents only,
or also by removal of infected articles to the disinfecting station ? and
as to when it should be done ?
The subject, it will be seen, is not free from difficulties!
The subjoined table shows the number of houses in which disinfection
would have been required, had the Order been in force in 1902,
upon the basis of the known number of infected houses.

Table: Number of Houses in which Disinfection would have been required in 1902.

Number of Houses in which Disinfection would have been required in 1902.

Locality.Population.No. of Houses requiring Disinfection.Total Houses.
Once.Twice.Thrice.
The Borough177,500259132274*
Sub-districts :—
Kensington Town128,660225132240
Brompton48,84034––34
Parliamentary Divisions:—
North Kensington91.510168122182
South Kensington85,990911–92
Wards :—
St. Charles22,060477256
Golborne26,440431–44
Norland23,580291–30
Pembridge19,430393–42
Holland20,500491–50
Earl's Court18,14020––20
Queen's Gate14,3408––8
Redcliffe18,79011––11
Brompton14,22013––13

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* Cases having occurred, at long intervals, twice in 13 houses and
thrice in two houses, the actual number of disinfections of houses would have
been 291.
The Question of Notification.