Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Stoke Newington, The Metropolitan Borough]
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26
EPIDEMIC INFLUENZA.
Epidemic Influenza became rather prevalent during the end of
the year.
The following preventive measures are recommended by the
Medical Department of the Local Government Board:—
1st.—Separation between the sick and the healthy so far as is practicable.
2nd.—Isolation of infected persons in large and warm but well ventilated
rooms.
3rd.—Persons who are attacked by Influenza should at once seek
rest, warmth, and medical treatment. No reliance should be
placed on popular remedies, for the risk of grave complications is
so great that the best possible treatment is required.
4th.—Those attacked should not, on any account, join assemblages of
people for at least a period of ten days from the commencement of
an attack, as they are likely to convey the disease to others In
severe cases the person attacked should remain away from work for
a period of three weeks from the onset of the disease.
5th.—Sheets, pocket-handkerchiefs, etc., which have been used in the sick
room should be put into a vessel containing an efficient disinfectant
(such as a one per cent. solution of chlorinated lime) and afterwards
soaked in cold water.
6th.—Infected articles and rooms should be cleansed and disinfected.
7th.—The use of warm clothing and the avoidance of unnecessary exposure
are advisable.
TYPHOID FEVER.
The 26 cases notified during tbe year all occurred in different
houses. In 3 of these houses grave insanitary conditions existed, and
in 5 the insanitary conditions were slight; while in the remaining 18
there were no insanitary conditions. 5 of the cases doubtless
contracted the disease outside of London during the summer and
autumn holidays. The evidence pointed strongly to the infection
having been derived from the eating of mussels in one instance and to
the consumption of tinned salmon in another instance. The origin of
the infection remained quite obscure in the majority of cases, and in
many instances, as I pointed out in a previous Report, the patient
had been ailing for several weeks before he took to his bed and the