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

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Holborn 1901

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

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(c) That, in the opinion of the Conference, it should be declared an offence, under the
Public Health (London) Act, 1891, to refuse or withhold information, or give false information,
with respect to persons living in a house in which small-pox has broken out, with regard to
(a) their names, (b) employment or occupation, (c) schools attended by their children, or
(D) as to any persons not living in such house, but employed therein.
(d) That, in the opinion of the Conference, the provisions of the Public Health (London)
Act, 1891, with regard to the prevention of infectious diseases, require amendment by
(a) shortening the period of twenty-four hours, allowed by Section 60, for the master of a
house to decide whether he will undertake the disinfection or allow the Sanitary Authority to
do so; and (b) extending the provisions of Section 64 to the taking of any house, or part of a
house, by a person suffering from an infectious disease, or who has been exposed to infection.
(e) That, in the opinion of the Conference, all disinfections should be carried out by the
Sanitary Authority.
It was further resolved:—
(f) That, in the opinion of the Conference, it is advisable that application be made to
the Metropolitan Asylums Board to send out, to every Medical Officer of Health in London,
daily lists of small-pox cases only, with age and addresses of patients, as is done weekly in the
case of all infectious diseases.
Upon consideration of a letter addressed by the Council of the Metropolitan Borough of
St. Pancras, to the President of the Local Government Board, with regard to the steps to be taken to
prevent the spread of small-pox by contact, the following resolution was passed:—
(g) That in the opinion of the Conference it is desirable to amend the law by providing
that when a person inhabits any part of a house in which there have been cases of small-pox,
and knowingly associates with other persons without having his own person and clothes
disinfected and cleansed to the satisfaction of the Local Sanitary Authority, he should be liable
to a penalty not exceeding £20.
On consideration of a communication addressed by the Town Clerk of the Royal Borough of
Kensington to the Local Government Board, requesting them to undertake the supply of lymph to
any registered Medical Practitioner, who may apply for the same, instead of to Public Vaccinators
only, the Conference unanimously approved the suggestion.
MEASLES.
Of the 22 deaths from Measles during the year, 21 were under 5 years of age. Nine of the
deaths belonged to Bloomsbury and St. Giles, and 13 to the Holborn Sub-Division.
Closure of St. George-the-Martyr Infant Schools.
During May, 1901, there was great prevalence of Measles amongst children attending the
infant department of St. George-the-Martyr Schools. On the 21st May, only 100 out of a roll of 259
were present, most of them being absent on account of Measles. The Chairman of the Managers,
the Rev. E. C. Bedford, at once agreed to the closure of the School until Monday, June 17th. The
formal order for closure was signed by the Chairman of the Public Health Committee and another
Member of the Committee. At the opening of the Infant School very few children were absent on
account of Measles. The Head Teacher very courteously supplied me with detailed information.
The Town Clerk was instructed to communicate with the Managers of all Voluntary Schools,
requesting them to kindly forward to me lists of all children that were absent or excluded on account
of Measles.