London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Edmonton 1955
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Edmonton]
This page requires JavaScript
The following table gives some idea of the work carried out:—
| Number of journeys to collect bedding | 230 |
| „ „ „ „ return bedding | 200 |
| Rooms disinfected after infectious disease | 110 |
| „ „ „ phthisis | 23 |
| „ „ „ other cases | 47 |
| „ „ „ vermin | 293 |
| Bedding, clothing, etc., disinfected after infectious disease | 745 articles |
| „ „ „ „ „ phthisis | 213 .. |
| „ „ „ „ „ other cases | 564 „ |
| „ „ „ „ „ vermin | 146 ., |
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 5,416. 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 417.
Eight Council properties and 111 other houses were found to be
infested; the total number of rooms disinfested was 293. The whole of the
work is carried out by the Department, the materials used being insecticides
containing D.D.T. as a base.
Petroleum (Regulations) Acts, 1928 and 1936.
During the year 6 new licences and 114 renewals were granted by the
Council. The following is a list of particulars of quantities, etc., affected by
these licences:—
Petroleum spirit 434,784 galls.
Petroleum mixtures (cellulose) 18,108 galls.
Rubber solution 100 lb. & 850 galls.
Mortuary.
The use of the Council's Mortuary for the reception of bodies was discontinued
after 31st March, 1953, and by arrangement with the North East
Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board, on and after 1st April, 1953, all bodies
which would normally have been received at the Council's Mortuary are
received at the Prince of Wales's Hospital. Tottenham. Mortuary.
The following tabular statement gives the number and the nature of the inspections made during the year:—
| Complaints | 1,932 |
| Infectious Diseases | 203 |
| Food Poisoning | 7 |
| House-to-house | 272 |