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
Paddington 1914
Report on the vital statistics and the work of the Public Health Department for the years 1914-18 (inclusive)
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appendix : prevention of infectious disease. 61
| 1914 | 1915 | 1916 | 1917 | 1918 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Diseases, Enquiries by— | |||||
| District Inspectors | 4808 | 5738 | 3718 | 2705 | 1554 |
| Women Inspectors | 6384 | 8119 | 5627 | 8317 | 7412 |
| Tuberculosis (included in above)— | |||||
| Women Inspectors | 5758 | 4902 | 4064 | 3119 | 2941 |
| Rooms Disinfected— | |||||
| All Diseases | 2927 | 4900 | 2491 | 4641 | 3122 |
| Tuberculosis | 351 | 340 | 374 | 293 | 224 |
| Weight of Bedding, &c., Disinfected (Tons) | 54 | 81⅔ | 44½ | 50½ | 38¼ |
| Cost of above | £1085 | £1648 | £932 | £1193 | £922 |
| School Notices issued— | |||||
| Measles, Whooping Cough, and Chicken Pox | 1917 | 5051 | 1562 | 4956 | 3397 |
| Other Diseases | 1407 | 926 | 674 | 437 | 534 |
| Patients removed to Hospital—All Diseases | 999 | 764 | 534 | 390 | 404 |
| Bacteriological Examinations for— | |||||
| Diphtheria | 1479 | 359 | 225 | 338 | 298 |
| Enteric Fever | 12 | 18 | 6 | — | 7 |
| Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis | 2 | 10 | 14 | 12 | 6 |
| Tuberculosis | 259 | 245 | 214 | 197 | 159 |
| 1914 | 1915 | 1916 | 1917 | 1918 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notices received | 29 | 32 | 26 | 38 | 18 |
| Reasons for action—Rate not paid | 14 | 10 | 9 | 12 | 6 |
| Defective fittings | 8 | 9 | 4 | 12 | 6 |
| Supply not required | — | — | — | — | 1 |
| Premises Inhabited | 20 | 15 | 13 | 17 | 9 |
| „ Empty | 7 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 5 |
| Bodies Deposited | 321 | 339 | 332 | 288 | 324 |
| Inquest Cases | 259 | 277 | 262 | 232 | 260 |
| Other Cases—Non-Infectious | 59 | 62 | 70 | 56 | * 64 |
| Infectious | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — |
| P.M. Examinations made | 119 | 147 | 120 | 123 | 116 |
| On Register at end of year | 176 | 175 | 181 | 182 | 204 |
| Known using Canal Basin | 63 | 65 | 68 | 74 | 96 |
| Inspections made | 206 | 160 | 166 | 68 | 77 |
| Infringements of Acts discovered | 38 | 18 | 12 | 8 | 7 |
| Notices served | 25 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Cases of Infectious Disease | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| Deaths of Occupants | — | 8 | 4 | 2 | — |
| Children found on Boats | 148 | 150 | 130 | 93 | 90 |
| Offensive Smells | 14(8)* | 14(11) | 5(5) | 6(5) | 5(5) |
| Accumulations of Manure | 26(12) | 15(13) | 10(10) | 13(12) | 22(19) |
| Smoke—Complaints received | 6 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 4 |
| Premises watched | 22 | 21 | 20 | 10 | 7 |
| Total time of observation (hours) | 134½ | 135¾ | 152½ | 90 | 19 |
| Duration of Smoke | 80 | 76½ | 95¾ | 72¼ | 14¼ |
| Including " black " Smoke | 1 | 3¾ | 4½ | 3¼ | 1¼ |
* To be read thus—" 14 complaints relating to 8 premises."