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

View report page

Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London

City of Westminster 1907

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]

This page requires JavaScript

Table: The following table gives a comparative statement of the above work during the past six years:—

The following table gives a comparative statement of the above work during the past six years:—

1901.1902.1903.1904.1905.1906.1907.
Premises8341,097709581667961840
Rooms1,2871,836] ,0399351,1771,6271,455
Articles disinfected32,21839,96527,76629,10734,70347,86536,115
Articles destroyed5837126521511951,660
Books disinfected9524161052363136
Number admitted to shelters13201939615

Text

Copy text to clipboard

Cleansing of Persons.— The Guardians have dealt with the
frequenters of their casual wards, who are the persons most troubled
with vermin, at their own establishments, thus at Bear Yard about ten
cases are dealt with daily. Two persons were specially treated at
Horseferry Road; 16 children in 13 houses were visited on account of
vermiuous heads, these were all cleansed by the parents; 32 visits
in connection therewith were paid to the houses and 6 to schools.
Verminous Houses.— Seven houses were fumigated with burning
sulphur by the staff, and 1,869 articles were passed through the
disinfecting apparatus, for this reason, or for being in such a condition
as likely to cause disease.
Mortuaries.
The number of bodies removed to the Council's mortuaries under
order of the Coroner, or to await burial, was 358; in four instances
death was the result of infectious disease.
Inquests were held in 281 instances at Horseferry Eoad, where the
Coroner's Court is situated; seven adjourned inquests were held. Postmortem
examinations were made in 178 instances at Horseferry Eoad
and in four instances at Dufour's Place.

Table: It appears that the number of dead bodies taken to the mortuaries for purposes of inquest is steadily declining, but greater advantage is being taken of them as resting places for bodies awaiting burial. The figures for the last seven years are:—

It appears that the number of dead bodies taken to the mortuaries for purposes of inquest is steadily declining, but greater advantage is being taken of them as resting places for bodies awaiting burial. The figures for the last seven years are:—

TotalFor Inquest.To await Burial.Total.For Inquest.To await Burial.
190143837066190537030761
190238934544190634528361
190339334155190735828177
190438832259