London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Finsbury 1938

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Finsbury Borough]

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75
Hop-Picking.
Special leaflets giving precautions for preventing the introduction
of infectious disease in the hop-fields were distributed to
intending hop-pickers again last year. In addition posters were
displayed throughout the Borough. The following leaflet was used
last year.
METROPOLITAN BOROUGH OF FINSBURY.
Public Health Department.
HOP PICKING.
Help is asked of all those who will go hopping this year to
lessen the risks of spreading infectious disease among London
hop pickers.
1. You can help by preventing actual cases of infectious
disease, or contacts of cases of infectious disease,
from entering the hop fields.
It is unlawful for any one suffering from a notifiable infectious
disease to travel in a public conveyance, the penalty being a
fine not exceeding £10. Apart from this there is great danger
of spreading disease to other families in the hop fields.
Anyone who has been in contact with infectious disease is
strongly urged not to go hopping during the three weeks following
contact. People who have been in contact with infectious
disease and who go to the hop fields against advice are sent back
by the farmers.
2. You can help by preventing cases of tuberculosis from
entering the hop fields.
No one suffering from consumption or tuberculosis should
go hopping, as there is a grave risk to other people sleeping in the
huts which are invariably overcrowded at week-ends.
3. You can help by making sure that only pickers booked
by the growers go to the farms.
No one should go hopping who has not actually been engaged
by the farmers to pick, as the accommodation is limited.
Unauthorised visitors may be turned off the farms.
Overcrowding will cause great discomfort in the huts, the