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
Lambeth 1926
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lambeth Borough]
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104
DISINFECTING DEPARTMENT, 1926
Details of work done in connection with the Disinfecting Department
are subjoined: 7,868 cases of infectious diseases, notified compulsorily
by medical men, were dealt with, including cerebro-spinal fever
and post-basic meningitis (6), acute polio-myelitis and encephalitis (6),
acute primary pneumonia (108), acute influenzal pneumonia (114), acute
encephalitis lethargica (14), malaria (6), ophthalmia neonatorum (53),
measles (5,149), german measles (223), and tuberculosis—pulmonary
(446), and non-pulmonary (101), whilst the following diseases were, in
addition, reported by school teachers and others, viz.: measles (1,496),
chicken-pox (824), cancer (96), whooping cough (508), and others not
classified (444)*, 197 verminous houses (361 rooms) and 1,220
verminous articles, viz.: bedding 936, and clothing 284, were also
dealt with.
| Total No. of Rooms disinfected by Council | 1 2637 |
| Do. articles do. | 17930 |
| Cases in which bedding was disinfected at home† | 8681 |
| Do. do. do. at Chamber | 2329 |
| Do. do. do. destroyed | — |
| Premises disinfected and disinfectants supplied | 30150 |
| Articles of bedding, etc., disinfected | 17930 |
| Articles of bedding, etc., destroyed | — |
| Ambulances, &c., disinfected | 5 |
| No. of Cleansing Notices served in connection with infected houses | 1669 |
| Certificates of Medical Practitioners received in lieu of disinfection by the Council | 13 |
| Schools disinfected‡ (40 rooms) | 10 |
| Certificates of disinfection left with occupiers of disinfected premises | 1723 |
| Library books disinfected (public) | 207 |
| Mattresses re-tabbed by Council | 516 |
* Scabies, ringworm, diseases not stated, etc.
† Bedding not removed to the Disinfecting Chamber for disinfection in cases of
Measles and German Measles
‡ Measles, 6 (27 rooms); Scarlet Fever, 3 (11 rooms) ; Diphtheria, 1 (2 rooms).