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 1909

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

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197
[1909
Disinfecting Station.—The work done at the Disinfecting Station was
heavier than at any period since the erection of the steam disinfectors, for no
less than 08,860 articles, which does not include handkerchiefs, stockings,
or other small articles usually made up into bundles, underwent the process of
disinfection. Of this large number, 37,273 had been exposed to an infectious
disease. Particulars are given in the following table:—

Table: TABLE CXXIV. Summary of the chief articles of Clothing, Bedding, &c., disinfected during the year 1909, and also in the preceding year 1908.

TABLE CXXIV. Summary of the chief articles of Clothing, Bedding, &c., disinfected during the year 1909, and also in the preceding year 1908.

1st Quarter.2nd Quarter.3rd Quarter.4th Quarter.The Year 19091908.
Beds7767157286402,8592,797
Blankets1,3201,1941,0881,2084,8104,5°5
Bolsters6876317156832,7162,337
Carpets150l8l152150633601
Chair Bed Cushions1228l11367383337
Mattresses3863715214471,7251,590
Palliasses3413694492991,4581,515
Pillows1,5071,3821,3851,3035,5775,276
Quilts7816907166702,8572,782
Sheets1,4291,3131.1341,0004,8765.069
Other Articles2,3272,3412,6302,0819,3799,207
Totals9,8269,2689,6318,54837,27336,016

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With respect to the other articles, 31,587 in number, it may be stated that
they consisted of the cast-off clothing of soldiers and sailors, and included tunics,
overcoats, and other garments, all of which were intended for exportation to
various countries, and with respect to which the Medical Officer of Health
issued certificates as to their having been satisfactorily disinfected.
This work has only been undertaken by the Council for the last two years
in order to meet the requirements of a large firm in Islington who export these
articles, and who are required to produce a certificate from the Medical Officer
of Health as to their satisfactory disinfection. Such certificates could not be
given unless the clothing had been disinfected by the Council. A charge is, of
course, made for the work, a minimum fee of £l, which is paid for any number
of articles under 1,000, having been fixed; while for 1,000 articles '25s. is
charged, and above that number in proportion to the rate last mentioned.