London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Leyton 1904

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Leyton]

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21
These deaths are included in the 866 mentioned in the foregoing list
There are now in the Infirmary 743 beds, all of which are occupied
including 56 beds for male phthisis, and 28 for female phthisis cases.
both of which have always been full. Additional Wards have been
provided for alleged lunatics, 24 female and 22 male beds. Owing to
the pressure on the male wards, there are now 25 extra beds. A
great want is the absence of an isolation block for suspicious cases.
There certainly should be some provision made as soon as possible in
this direction. Also I have to report that the smoke nuisance, arising
from the chimney shaft, which could be largely abated by the use of
Welsh Steam Coal or Anthracite, still exists.
Attached to this Institution is Forest House, in which is
accommodation, under the excellent supervision of Mr. and Mrs. Riley,
for 390 old men. Of the series of cottages, originally intended for
married couples only, a very few have been used, the remaining beds
being occupied by 90 old ladies. The occupants of these two
Institutions are carefully selected by the Guardians, and they get
privileges not usually granted to inmates of Workhouses.
BETHNAL GREEN SCHOOLS.
The general health has again been very good. One case of
Typhoid and one of Scarlet Fever. There are 260 boys and 218 girls
in these Schools, and beyond the above I have only to report that the
Schools were slightly affected by a short epidemic of Influenza in a
mild form.
DISINFECTION.
The Steam Disinfector has become more and more useful, and it
is now quite the general practice to resort to its services in the matter
of disinfecting bedding, clothing, etc., from houses where any illness,
not only infectious ones as heretofore, have occurred.
FACTORY AND WORKSHOP ACT.
The number of Workshops is 97. These premises, as well as the
dwellings of 241 Outworkers, an increase of 98 on last year's work
have, as usual, been subjected to periodical systematic inspection, and
everything done that it was possible to do in the matter of preventing
overcrowding, and abating sanitary nuisances generally. Only 8 cases
of overcrowding, as against 31 last year, were found, but sanitary
defects discovered rose from 33 in 1903 to 76 this year. These were
duly dealt with, and in case was prosecution necessary.