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
Paddington 1913
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Paddington, Metropolitan Borough of]
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119
food supervision.
Since 1905 the infantile mortality of the rate has been determined each year. During the
nine years that rate has varied from a minimum of 123 per 1,000 births in 1910 to a maximum
of 222 in 1909. Last year the rate was 173, as compared with 175 in 1912. Evidently there is
much room for preventive work with regard to this particular subject.
Common Lodging Houses.
There are 7 of these houses in the Borough, the same as in 1912. The accommodation
provided comprises 6 houses for men, with 195 beds, and 1 for women, with 37 beds. No cases
of infectious illness were reported from any of the houses, the diagnosis of such diseases as
enteric fever, erysipelas and tuberculosis, the infectious diseases most common among the
frequenters of these houses, being almost invariably made after the patients have been admitted
to the Infirmary. 1 here was a very considerable increase in the number of deaths of inmates of
these houses, the number rising from 9 in 1912 to 20 last year. The causes of death were certified to have been due to—
| Respiratory diseases | 5 | Lead poisoning | 1 each |
| Pulmonary tuberculosis | 4 | Enteritis | |
| Enteric fever | 3 each | Cerebral hæmorrhage | |
| Cancer | Heart disease | ||
| Epidemic influenza | 1 each | Old age | |
| Alcoholism |
Inhabited House Duty.
Last year four new applications for certificates for the abatement or remission of this duty
were received. Two of the applications were not carried through. Four certificates (including
three relating to applications mentioned in the 1912 report) were issued, covering 25 tenements
or separate occupations. One application remained over for completion during the current
year.
FOOD SUPERVISION.
| Bishop's Mews, No. 1. | Southwick Mews, No. 15. |
| Edgware Road, No. 275. | Chippenham Mews, No. 18. |
| Portsdown Mews (at rear of No. 249, Maida Vale). | Harrow Road, No. 125. |
| Upper Brook Mews, | No. 6. |
The slaughterhouses are systematically inspected by the Meat Inspector, and by the Medical
Officer of Health at least once a year. No grounds for objection to the renewal of the licences
were discovered.
The Inspector was present at the slaughterhouses while killing was taking place on 408
occasions (447 in 1912). The animals slaughtered comprised 37 bullocks and 3,482 sheep last
year, as compared with 64 bullocks and 4,303 sheep in 1912. The number of animals slaughtered
has been decreasing for some years, but may be expected to increase again owing to the
smaller supplies available for importation.
The following parts (organs) were destroyed at the slaughterhouses.
Sheep. Livers, 10—parasitic 7, containing abscesses 3.
Bullocks. Livers, 3—parasitic.
During 1912 and 1913 no tuberculous cattle were found in the slaughterhouses.