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

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Paddington 1908

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Paddington, Metropolitan Borough of]

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ADMINISTRATIVE WORK. 51
At the request of the Local Government Board the Kensington Borough Council was
approached with a view to a joint user of that Council's disinfecting station by the Council of
this Borough. In July of last year a conference took place between representatives of the
two Councils under the Chairmanship of Dr. Sweeting, one of the Medical Inspectors of the
Local Government Board. The Conference was adjourned for a scheme for the joint ownership
and user of the station to be prepared by the Council of this Borough and to be submitted
to the Kensington Council. Such scheme was prepared and forwarded to Kensington in the
following autumn. At the close of the year the reply from Kensington had not been received,
and the Conference had not re-assembled.
Water Supply.—There was a slight increase in the number of notices of discontinuance
of water supply, from 81 in 1907 to 88 last year. In 1906 the notices numbered 141. The
Inspectors reported the cutting off to be due to—
Empty premises 75
Defective fittings 1
Unpaid rates, etc. 12
The last cause shows a three-fold increase, only 4 such cases being reported in 1907.
Notices demanding restoration of the supply were served with respect to 9 houses. Six
of the thirteen inhabited houses were subsequently vacated, while the water was restored to
7 after the following intervals—
7 days 2 houses
8, 9, 14, 15 and 23 days (after being
vacated) 1 house each
In one case, occupied but not inhabited premises, the water for flushing closets was taken
from the canal.
No proceedings have been necessary under the By-laws relating to the Mortuaries.
Schools.— In Table 35 will be found an analysis of the incidence of infection on the
Public Elementary Schools of the Borough, as evidenced by the cases occurring among
resident scholars ("P.A.") and other members of their families ("P.N.A.") The returns
relating to non-residents ("N.R.") cannot be so distinguished. It will be seen that the
numbers of attacks of scarlet fever among the scholars at Harrow Road (Moberly) and Royal
Oak (temporary), and St. Mary Magdalene's Schools, were markedly above the average, and
that there was a similar excess among non-residents in connection with St. Augustine's
School. The incidence among resident scholars will be dealt with in a special report on the
prevalence of scarlet fever which is in course of preparation. As regards St. Augustine's
School, the contrast between the numbers for residents and non-residents is due to the preponderance
of the latter at that school.

Mortuaries .—During the year 292 bodies were deposited at the Mortuaies,2 more than in 1907. (See below.)

Paddington Green.Kensal Road.
Number of bodies deposited27319
Coroner's cases21019
Awaiting burial:—
Infectious3-
Non-infectious60-
P.M. examimations made9313