London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
St Pancras 1925
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, Metropolitan Borough]
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On the following page is shown the number of articles disinfected or destroyed during the year on account of infectious disease or verminous condition:—
| — | Infectious Disease. | Verminous. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Destroyed. | Disinfected. | Destroyed. | Disinfected. | |
| Beds, mattresses and palliasses | 102 | 1970 | 20 | 35 |
| Bolsters and pillows | 50 | 4001 | 7 | 57 |
| Sheets, blankets and counterpanes | 26 | 5543 | — | 81 |
| Rugs, mats, cushions, carpets, covers and curtains | 29 | 864 | 8 | 7 |
| Wearing apparel | 9 | 2429 | — | 9 |
| Books | — | 157 | — | — |
| Sundries | 32 | 409 | 3 | 2 |
| Totals | 248 | 15373 | 38 | 191 |
The tables above are exclusive of the disinfection of the clothing of persons attending
the cleansing station for vermin or scabies.
Cleansing Station.
The amount of work carried out during the year is shown in the following table.
The figures represent the number of attendances. At each attendance the person receives a
bath, and the clothing is disinfected: —
Men.
Women.
Children
under 15.
Total.
St. Pancras Cases
Other Cases
Vermin 1028 26 4135 *5189
Scabies 10 5 769 784
Vermin 59 2 827 888
Scabies — — 147 147
Totals 1097 33 5878 7008
* Includes 565 males and 8 females who had no home address.
The staff of the Disinfecting and Cleansing Station consists of a Foreman, a Stoker
and General Assistant, and 2 Assistant Disinfectors; a Matron of the Cleansing Station and
2 Women Assistants.
THE MORTUARY.
Considerable and very necessary improvements have been carried out during the year.
The old post-mortem room was small; there was no facility for hot water, and the lighting
and ventilation were inadequate. The fittings were also of a very old type, insanitary and
defective. It was decided to convert the large viewing room into a post-mortem room, and
use the smaller adjoining room, which previously had been reserved for infectious cases, as a
viewing room. The old and unsatisfactory post-mortem room could then be utilised, when
necessary, for infectious cases for which purpose it was adequate.
Two new tables of modern type were provided in the post-mortem room, together with
hand-basins, sinks and a supply of hot water. The lighting and ventilation were also
improved. The building and equipment is now thoroughly satisfactory.