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
Edmonton 1944
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Edmonton]
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The Council distribute a disinfecting powder and fluid to residents who
apply for same at the Town Hall Yard. During the year, the applicants
numbered 10,015. One hour daily is allowed for such distribution with the
exception of Fridays and Saturdays. A Formalin Chamber is used for the
disinfection of books, leather goods, etc., articles that would be damaged by
steam. The number of books and other articles thus disinfected was 413.
Five Council houses and 101 other houses were found to be infested and
the total number of rooms disinfested was 216. The whole of the work is
carried out by the Department, the materials used being Block Disinfestators
combined with the use of Insecticides.
Petroleum (Regulations) Acts, 1928 and 1936.
During the year one new licence and 104 renewals were granted by the Council. Ihe following is a list of particulars of quantities, etc., affected by these licences :—
| Petroleum spirit | 461,683 gallons. |
| Petroleum mixtures | 8,028 |
| Carbide of calcium | 1 ton 17 cwts. 78 lbs. |
Mortuary.
During the year 86 bodies were deposited in the Mortuary, 76 by order of
the Coroner and 10 for sanitary reasons.
Inspections.
The following tabular statement gives the number and nature of the inspections made during the year :—
| Complaints | 1,742 |
| Infectious disease | 358 |
| Tuberculosis | 54 |
| Factories with mechanical power | 318 |
| Factories without mechanical power | 15 |
| Other premises under the Factories Act | 2 |
| Outworkers | 324 |
| Schools | — |
| Offensive trades | 6 |
| Shops and Stalls | 326 |
| Shops Act (Primary) | 12 |
| Shops Act (Re-inspections) | 10 |
| Sanitary conveniences and urinals | 466 |
| Smoke observations | 30 |
| Stables | 25 |
| Piggeries | 56 |
| Petroleum | 17 |
| General inspections | 256 |
| Sundry Visits | 2,239 |
| Cinemas and Halls | 7 |
| Visits to canal | 5 |
| A.R.P. Shelters | 57 |
| Re-inspections | 5,142 |
| Inspection of Places where Food is Prepared. | |
| Butchers | 201 |
| Fish shops | 35 |
| Coffee shops | 112 |
| Dairies and milkshops | 94 |
| Slaughterhouses | 73 |
| Bakehouses | 45 |