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 1938
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Deptford Borough]
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75
At the Tuberculosis Dispensary, 987 specimens of sputum were
examined. Of these, 769 specimens were of sputa of Dispensary
patients, while private practitioners submitted the balance, viz., 218
specimens.
| Number of premises visited : Infectious diseases | 613 |
| „ „ „ Requests, rooms only | 89 |
| „ „ „ „ bedding only | 82 |
| „ ,, „ Verminous conditions | 140 |
| „ „ „ Removals | 27 |
| Total premises visited | 951 |
| Number of rooms disinfected, formalin spray | 953 |
| ,, ,, ,, sulphur | 268 |
| Total | 1212 |
| Number of articles disinfected (steam disinfector) | 15701 |
| Number of books disinfected (formalin lamp) | 229 |
| „ „ articles destroyed at owners' request | 586 |
Disinfection of bedding and clothing is carried out by means of two
Washington-Lyons machines; books, etc., in a formalin chamber, while
rooms are sprayed with formalin or fumigated with sulphur.
Shelter for Contacts. The Council has made provision for the
temporary accommodation of contacts of infectious disease who may
be required to leave their dwellings during the process of disinfection.
The shelter was not used for this purpose during the year.
Disinfestation.
Verminous conditions, whether of the home, of wearing apparel or
personal in character, come within the purview of the Council's activities.