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
Kensington 1929
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]
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MORTUARY AND CHAPEL OF REST.
| During the year 266 bodies were deposited in the Public Mortuary under the following circumstances:— | |
| At the request of relatives or friends of the deceased | 30 |
| At the request of undertakers | 1 |
| At the request of Coroner | 229 |
| By the police | 6 |
| 266 | |
In 164 cases, post-mortem examinations were made under the Coroner's warrant.
Sixty-two bodies were deposited in the Chapel of Rest, Avondale Park. This building is of
considerable convenience to those poor persons in Notting Dale who live in perhaps one or two
rooms and have no satisfactory accommodation for the bodies of dead relatives pending the day of
the funeral.
CLEANSING OF VERMINOUS PERSONS.
| Scabies— | Total Cleansings. |
|---|---|
| Adults | 167 |
| Schoolchildren | 201 |
| Children under five years | 40 |
| Verminous Conditions— | |
| Adults | 29 |
| Schoolchildren | 2,973 |
| Children under five years | 7 |
| Common Lodging House Cases | 12 |
| Other Conditions— | |
| Adults | 2 |
| Schoolchildren | 56 |
| Children under five years | 5 |
| Total 3,492 | |
In addition to the disinfection of the clothing worn by persons on their visit to the Medicinal
Baths, 159 blankets and sheets, 161 articles of night clothing, and 3,516 other articles have been
dealt with.
Of the 2,973 school children cleansed at the Medicinal Baths in 1929 only 225 were compulsory
cases; the remainder attended voluntarily.
THE KENSINGTON POOR LAW AUTHORITY.
I am indebted to the Clerk to the Guardians who has kindly provided me with the following
particulars in order that I might comply with the request made by the Minister of Health to supply
information of the work, etc., done.