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
Hackney 1913
Report on the sanitary condition of the Hackney District for the year 1913
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Cleansing of Verminous Children.
| Attendant's Wages | 50 | 2 | 6 |
| Towels, Sheets, etc. | 4 | 12 | 3 |
| Disinfectants | 1 | 15 | 0 |
| Sponges, Brushes, Combs, etc. ...... | 2 | 11 | 3 |
| £59 | 1 | 0 |
London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1904.
During the year my attention was drawn by the Medical
Officer (Education) of the L.C.C. to 1,035 homes in the Borough
from which children were attending school in a verminous condition,
and I was asked to deal with them under the above Act.
I had all these inspected, with the following results:—
| No. of Homes Inspected. | No. of Homes where Rooms alone were found Verminous. | No. of Homes where Bedding or Clothes and Rooms were found Verminous. | No. of Homes not Verminous. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,035 | 80 | 82 | 873 |
Amongst the 162 verminous homes there were 82 where bedding
and clothes were found to be infected as well as the walls of the
rooms. The bedding and clothing were taken in these instances to
the disinfecting station and steamed. Some of the verminous rooms
were fumigated and others sprayed with a germicide, these latter
numbered 265; and, where necessary, notices were served upon
the owners to cleanse and strip the rooms to free them from vermin.
I find that fumigation alone does not destroy all the vermin;
thorough spraying with a germicidal solution is more effectual in
destroying both the adult vermin and their eggs.
REMOVAL AND DISPOSAL OF HOUSE REFUSE.
The total quantity of refuse removed from occupied houses
in the Borough to the destructor by the Council's contractors,