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

View report page

Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London

Islington 1909

Fifty-fourth annual report on the health and sanitary condition of the Metropolitan Borough of Islington

This page requires JavaScript

Text

Copy text to clipboard

168
1909]

Table: Table CXIII. Showing the Gases of Infectious Disease removed to the Metropolitan Asylums Board's Hospitalsfur treatment and isolation during 1909.

Table CXIII. Showing the Gases of Infectious Disease removed to the Metropolitan Asylums Board's Hospitalsfur treatment and isolation during 1909.

Metropolitan Asylums Board's Hospitals.Small Pox.Scarlet Fever.Diphtheria.Enteiic Fever.Typhus Fever.Other Diseases.Total Admissions.Total Deaths.
Eastern..46102..12702
North Eastern..1,02218620..1351,36344
North Western..29882..2013916
Western................
South Western................
The Grove..1...... ....1..
Brook Hospital..1........1..
South Eastern................
Convalescent Hospital..............1
Small Pox3..........3..
Totals31,09928424..1671,57763

Text

Copy text to clipboard

INFECTIOUS DISEASES IN BUSINESS PREMISES.
A strict account was kept of the trades and businesses carried on in
premises where the notifiable infectious diseases occurred. The result of the
inquiries is interesting, as it shows that 136 cases of Scarlet Fever were found
on premises where one of the trades or businesses set out in Table CXI V. was
carried on, and that no less than 15 of them were known in dressmakers'
establishments. In 60 business places cases of Diphtheria occurred, the largest
number being in houses where general dealers traded. Only 9 cases of
Enteric Fever were known in such places, and 36 cases of Erysipelas.
The good that is likely to accrue by the notification of these diseases is well
seen in the case of Scarlet Fever or Enteric Fever occurring on premises where
clothes are made or food is prepared. It is not too much to say that in
Islington many cases of these diseases must have been prevented from time to
time by the speedy removal of the patients to hospital. This point has been
previously noted by the Medical Officer, who has also frequently pointed out
in his preceding annual reports that if notification of the infectious diseases
require justification it can be found by their perusal.