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
Deptford 1913
Annual report on the health of the Metropolitan Borough of Deptford
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107
vapour of formalin for three hours. This process, if necessary, can
be repeated, and the books can be returned to the library none the
worse for the operation with the exception of a smell of formalin,
which passes off after a few days.
The chamber we use for this kind of disinfection, and also for other
small articles which would be injured by steam, as leather goods,
furs, boots, etc., is a specially constructed, zinc lined chamber 6-ft. 11-in.
by 4-ft. 4½-in. by 1-ft. 6-in., having a capacity of 45 cubic feet. An
alformant lamp is used.
The Medical Officer is unable to recall a single instance in which
infection has been conveyed by books, notwithstanding that he has
instituted inquiries in other districts of books taken from infected houses.
The degree of exposure of books whilst in infected houses varies
very widely, and it is not desirable to make any hard and fast rule as
to how books from infected houses should be dealt with.
Table.
| Total number of Premises disinfected | 1192 |
| „ ,, Rooms ,, | 1359 |
| „ ,. Beds | 780 |
| ,, ,, Pillows ,, | 1738 |
| „ „ Bolsters ,, | 610 |
| ,, ,, Mattresses „ | 314 |
| ,, „ Sheets ,, | 888 |
| ,, ,, Blankets ,, | 1240 |
| ,, ,, Odd articles ,, | 3305 |
| Total articles | 8875 |
| Total number of Beds destroyed | 9 |
| ,, ,, Mattresses ,, | 15 |
| ,, ,, Blankets ,, | 1 |
| „ ,, Odd articles ,, | 72 |
| ,, „ Pillows „ | 4 |
| ,, ,, Palliasses ,, | 10 |
| ,, ,, Sheets „ | 2 |
N.B.—The above articles were destroyed at the request of the owners.
The Shelter.
The Public Health (London) Act, 1891, Section 60, Sub-Section 4,
imposes on the Sanitary Authority the duty of making provision for
the temporary housing of persons who are compelled to leave their
dwellings for the purpose of enabling such dwellings to be disinfected
by the Sanitary Authority.
The accommodation provided consists of a detached building
containing two separate and distinct tenements, each consisting of
two bedrooms, kitchen, larder, bathroom, and w.c. The shelter was
not used during the year.