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St George (Southwark) 1896

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Southwark, The Vestry of the Parish of St. George the Martyr]

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38
Parish of St. George the Martyr, Southwark.

No. of Persons Occupying Infected Tenements.

1 Room.2 Rooms.3 Rooms.Total.
50812305102248
216364206786
25431886
5355-108
16-16
303666
80217387703310

This statement is sufficiently serious; especially when regard is paid to the
looseness of the system of disinfection which has hitherto obtained. At the same
time, your Committee cannot but regret that the Medical Officer of Health has not
made use of the power conferred on him under s. 60 of the Public Health (London)
Act, 1891, especially in those cases whore efficient fumigation is impossible.
In view of the facts which have now been set forth your Committee further
recommend:—
1. That the Medical Officer of Health be requested to prepare detailed instructions
for the guidance of the disinfecting officers, as to the steps which shall be
taken for the sealing of windows, doors, fireplaces, &o., for the removal of
beds, bedding, curtains. &c.; the wearing and disinfection of overalls ; that
the work of disinfection should be under the general supervision of the
Medical Officer of Health, and the more detailed supervision of the Sanitary
Inspectors, and that suitable appliances should be provided to ensure efficient
sulphuration.
2. That the Medical Officer of Health be requested to carry out the requirements
of the Local Government Board, as regards visiting and reporting on outbreaks
of infectious diseases, and endeavouring to arrest the spread of such
disease, as contained in The Sanitary Officers (London) Order, 1891, Art. 18,
Sec. (6) and Sec. (14):—That he be required to carry out, as regards attendance
at the office, the duty specified in paragraph 1 of the List of Duties which
he signed at the time of his appointment.
3. That a suitable register be provided of forms of certificate, with counterfoil, to
be given to employers as to the freedom from infection of their employees,
and that no other form be used.
4. That the Sanitary Inspectors be required to carry out the provisions of the
Order, already quoted, Art. 19, Sec (9), which require that "he shall enter
from day to day, in a book to be provided by the Sanitary Authority,
particulars of his inspection, and of the action taken by him in the execution
of his duties. He shall also keep a book or books, to be provided by the
Sanitary Authority, so arranged as to form, as far as possible, a continuous
record of the sanitary condition of each of the premises in respect of which
any action has been taken under the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, or
under any other Statute or Statutes, and shall keep any other systematic
records that the Sanitary Authority may require."
5. That the Vestry approach the Metropolitan Asylums Board, with a request to
consider whether any system could be arranged, whereby this Vestry could
be informed without delay of the removal of patients.
(Signed) W. NEVILLE,
27th November, 1896,
Chairman.