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
Finsbury 1947
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Finsbury Borough]
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(16)
SMOKE EMISSION: 28 complaints were received during the year
regarding excessive smoke emission. 76 smoke observations were made.
MORTUARY: 5 Bodies were received at the mortuary attached to the Health
Centre premises.
DISINFECTION: The following table gives particulars of the disinfeetion work carried out during 1947.
| Diphtheria | 14 |
| Measles | 269 |
| Vermin and Scabies | 434 |
| Scarlet Fever | 80 |
| Tubereulosis | 26 |
| Whooping Cough | 61 |
| Miscellaneous | 83 |
| By request | 105 |
'A total number of 15,337 articles were disinfected, being chiefly pillows,
mattresses, bolsters, sheets, blankets and wearing apparel. In addition
691,843 articles were disinfected prior to Export and fees charge for
this work amounted to £771.
OFFENSIVE TRADES: The following are licenced offensive trade premises:
(a) Messrs. Henson, 187 Whiteeross Street, E.C.I.
(b) Messrs. F.& W.Warman, Ltd., 5. Eagle Court, E.C.I.
(c) Messrs. T.Kendon & Sons, Charterhouse Mows, E.C.I.
(d) Messrs. Reubens, Ltd., 71/73 St.John Street, E.C.I.
Regular visits were made in respect of these premises during the year.
FACTORIESFACTORIES ACT, 1937: The number of factories on the register at the end of 1947 was 2,200 comprising 1,350 power factories and 850 non-power factories. 145 firms were added to and 103 removed from the register during the year. The following is a summary of defects found:
| NUMBER OF DEFECTS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| FACTORIES (POWER) | FACTORIES (NON-POWER) | TOTAL | |
| Refuse accumulation or absence of dustbin | 6 | 1 | 7 |
| Roof leaky | 17 | 3 | 20 |
| Dampness and dilapidations | 37 | 27 | 64 |
| Sanitary Conveniences-defective | 15 | 7 | 22 |
| " " -dirty | 21 | 6 | 27 |
| " -not separated for Sexes : or insufficient | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| " " -with no artificial light or unlabelled | 22 | 8 | 30 |
| " -absence of intervening ventilated space | 13 | 2 | 15 |
| " " -unsuitable and insufficient ventilation | 24 | 4 | 28 |
| Water fittings or waste pipes defective | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Thermometer absent | – | – | – |