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 1952
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Finsbury Borough]
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During the year it was carried out in the following instances for the reasons set out:—
| Suspected Diphtheria | 6 |
| Suspected Scarlet Fever | 87 |
| Suspected Poliomyelitis | 2 |
| Suspected Dysentery and Gastro-enteritis | 78 |
| Suspected Measles | 77 |
| Suspected Whooping Cough | 22 |
| Tuberculosis | 32 |
| On behalf of St. Marks and other Hospitals | 14 |
| Miscellaneous | 87 |
Bedding and clothing were brought to the Disinfecting Station
in the Health Centre in these cases, and disinfected with steam.
In all, including the cases where this was carried out for the control
of vermin, 13,142 articles were treated.
Goods, mostly clothing, were also disinfected on behalf of certain export firms as follows:—
| Number of articles | 1,001,713 |
| Number of times disinfecting plant charged | 642 |
Nuisance from Pigeons.
Authority was given previously for the catching of pigeons in
the streets and open spaces in the Borough. This work has been
carried on satisfactorily throughout the year. It must be appreciated
that if the number of these birds is not kept under control, they would
soon become a public health nuisance.
Mortuary.
The mortuary attached to the Health Centre remained available
for the reception of bodies throughout the year. This mortuary is
primarily intended for the isolation of the bodies of those dying from
infectious disease and the early removal from overcrowded rooms of
bodies of those dying from other conditions when this cannot otherwise
be effected. At the present time other facilities are usually made
available by undertakers and there have been no deaths from any
serious infectious disease. It is, however, of great value to have this
provision for use in an emergency.
Six bodies were received into the mortuary during the year.