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

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Hornsey 1958

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hornsey, Borough of]

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lady was very deaf, and it was difficult to make her understand that the
visitors were friends. Her breathing was laboured, and she appeared to
be very ill indeed. The visitor lit a fire, bought food, and telephoned for
a doctor, who came the same evening, and the following day the old lady
was admitted to hospital suffering from pneumonia. It was found on
investigation that her real age was 70, that she was a widow without any
family, and that she had been spending her pension on gin. She spent
some weeks in hospital, and returned home to a beautifully clean room
with a good stock of food in the larder, but alas, good living was too much
for her, and one morning she was found to have passed away in her sleep.
She was totally deaf, and a deaf aid was unsuitable for her.
(2) Miss G, an old lady of 83, was a very independent type, small in
stature, and her weight at the time of the visit was only 4 stone. She
retired to bed during the winter months, refused a home help, was
abusive to visitors, and would not accept meals delivered by the W.V.S.
She was a source of great worry to her landlady, and refused to allow her
doctor to examine her. After many visits, she was persuaded to allow her
doctor to see her while the visitor was present, and he found that she was
suffering from malnutrition, and was no longer able to care for herself.
The old lady steadily refused to enter a Home, although the county
welfare officer also visited her. On one occasion, our visitor had to
wash her from head to foot, as she was in such a state of filth and neglect.
A district nurse was called in, and was able to examine her. The old lady
had developed serious incontinent habits, and her bed was soaked with
urine, and her body severely burned by this condition. Clean nightdresses,
bedding and a mattress was supplied by the Welfare Council. After many
visits, the old lady was eventually persuaded to enter a Home."
CLEANSING OF SOILED ARTICLES
During the year 1,160 bundles of articles were collected for cleansing
under the terms of section 84 of the Public Health Act 1936.
60 people received assistance and 13 were still doing so at the end of
the year. The highest number of cases being assisted at any one time was
20 and the service undoubtedly meets a very great need.

PETROLEUM SPIRIT

The number of establishments licensed for storage is 75 and the number of licenses issued is as follows:—

Petroleum64
Cellulose18
Naphthalene1
Hydro-carbon1
Petroleum mixtures1
Total85

(Nine establishments are licensed for more than one product).
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