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
Marylebone 1923
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Marylebone, Metropolitan Borough]
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62
DISINFECTION.
The work done in this connection during 1923 is shown in the following tables.
The methods employed during the greater part of the time were substantially the
same as in previous years, articles suitable for treatment by steam were dealt with in
the Washington-Lyons Disinfector, while for rooms either formalin or sulphur was
generally employed.
The number and nature of the articles disinfected are shown hereunder:—
| Compulsorily Notifiable Diseases. | Phthisis. | Measles. | Vermin. | Other causes. | Total. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beds | 133 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 160 |
| Mattresses | 285 | 33 | 3 | 26 | 102 | 449 |
| Bolsters | 137 | 23 | 1 | 7 | 34 | 202 |
| Pillows | 598 | 77 | 6 | 26 | 343 | 1,050 |
| Sheets | 418 | 14 | 2 | 11 | 7 | 452 |
| Blankets | 702 | 33 | 11 | 22 | 184 | 952 |
| Sundries | 5,095 | 444 | 8 | 378 | 1130 | 7,055 |
| Totals | 7,368 | 632 | 32 | 471 | 1817 | 10,320 |
In 1922, the number of articles disinfected was 15,364.
The number of journeys made by the disinfecting vans during the year ended December, 1923, was :—
| January | 48 | August | 49 |
| February | 44 | September | 45 |
| March | 50 | October | 48 |
| April | 43 | November | 48 |
| May | 50 | December | 44 |
| June | 47 | — | |
| July | 47 | 563 |
The number of rooms disinfected and the reasons for carrying out disinfection are stated below :—
Reasons for Disinfection.
| Compulsorily Notifiable Diseases. | Phthisis. | Measles. | Vermin. | Other causes. | Total. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 53 | 5 | 1 | — | 5 | 64 |
| February | 31 | 6 | 4 | — | — | 41 |
| March | 83 | 12 | 2 | 6 | — | 103 |
| April | 39 | 11 | 7 | 1 | — | 58 |
| May | 40 | 5 | 2 | 2 | — | 49 |
| June | 50 | 10 | — | 1 | — | 61 |
| July | 40 | 16 | 1 | 3 | — | 60 |
| August | 34 | 16 | 4 | 1 | — | 55 |
| September | 32 | 3 | — | 1 | — | 36 |
| October | 25 | 4 | — | 2 | — | 31 |
| November | 20 | 5 | — | — | — | 25 |
| December | 40 | 17 | o | 1 | — | 60 |
| Totals | 487 | 110 | 23 | 18 | 5 | 643 |