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
Islington 1902
Forty-seventh annual report on the health and sanitary condition of the Borough of Islington
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159
[1902
Disinfectants distributed and used. —The following statement gives the amount of disinfectants distributed by the Sanitary Authority, and used in cleansing rooms:—
| How disposed of. | Carbolic Powder. | Carbolised Creosote. | Clear Carbolic Acid. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tons. | Gallons. | Gallons. | |||
| To Householders | 5 | 1,000 | — | ||
| Disinfection of Premises | — | — | 20 | ||
SHELTER HOUSE.
Under the provisions of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, every
Sanitary Authority shall provide, free of charge, temporary shelter with any
necessary attendants for the members of any family in which any dangerous
infectious disease has appeared, who have been compelled to leave their
dwellings, for the purpose of enabling such dwellings to be disinfected by the
Sanitary Authority.
The name which has everywhere been given to houses of this description
is unfortunate and undoubtedly militates against their usefulness, for it flavours
too much of pauperism, and consequently people object to enter them lest they
should be thought to be living in a pauper institution. Nevertheless, when
such a disease as Small Pox occurs in families they are more readily used,
although in many instances strong assurances have to be given that they have
nothing to do with the workhouse. It is, therefore, not surprising to find
that 57 families consisting of 190 persons were received during the year.
These families, with three exceptions, came there owing to Small Pox having
appeared in their houses, and remained until the disinfection, cleansing, and
stripping of the walls had been completed.
The following statements give full particulars as to the number of families and persons received.
| January | 8 families, consisting of 22 persons. | |
| February | 7 „ „ 15 „ | |
| March | 15 „ „ 61 „ | |
| April | 14 „ „ 43 „ | |
| May | 6 „ „ 33 „ | |
| June | 4 „ „ 13 „ | |
| July | 0 „ „ 0 „ | |
| August | 2 „ „ 2 „ | |
| September | 1 family, „ 1 person. | |
| Totals | 57 families, „ 190 persons. | |