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 1956
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Finsbury Borough]
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34
Disinfection
Disinfection is carried out in all cases after infectious disease
has occurred when it is considered necessary, and in other cases on
request, generally after advice has been given that it would be advisable
for it to be carried out.
During the year it was carried out in the following instances for the reasons set out:-
| Suspected Scarlet Fever | 24 |
| ,, Poliomyelitis | 7 |
| ,, Dysentery and Gastro enteritis | 79 |
| ,, Measles | 38 |
| ,, Whooping Cough | 46 |
| Tuberculosis | 12 |
| Scabies | 6 |
| On behalf of St. Marks and other hospitals | 8 |
| Miscellaneous | 34 |
| 254 |
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,
9,177 articles were treated.
Goods, mostly clothing, were also disinfected on behalf of cer-tain export firms as follows:-
| Number of articles | 167,282 |
| Number of times disinfecting plant charged | 325¾ |
Nuisance from Pigeons
In order to control the number of pigeons in the borough, licences
have been granted for catching them in the streets and open spaces, as
they are liable to become a public nuisance and to do much damage.
Enquiries are made as to the means employed by those authorized, to ensure
that they are humane and as to disposal of the carcasses to
ensure that birds unfit for human consumption are not sold for this
purpose.
During 1956 two licences were in force.