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
Willesden 1946
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Willesden]
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Ear, Nose and Throat Department.—G. H. Livingstone, f.r.c.s.— Mr. A. L. Pereira, f.r.c.s., has carried I
on the work of this department in the absence of Mr. Livingstone. I
HOME NURSING SERVICE. I
The Home Nurse employed by the Council nursed 195 cases during 1946, and in connection with such cases I
paid 990 visits. I
Of the 195 cases nursed during 1946, 193 were new cases. 182 of these 193 new cases were referred by the I
Health Department for nursing, 4 by private doctors and 7 by hospitals, associations or private persons. I
Ophthalmic cases received 165 visits. I
SANITARY SECTION. I
At the commencement of the year, the Acting Chief Sanitary Inspector and nine District Sanitary Inspectors I
were on the staff. Owing to resignations, the year ended with a total of seven, including the Acting Chief Sanitary I
Inspector. I
The number of premises inspected on complaint was 7,473 and the total inspections and re-inspections were I
21,624. These figures show a considerable increase on the previous year's figures in respect of initial inspections I
on complaint, but a decrease in the number of reinspections, due to shortage of staff. (The figures for 1945 were I
5,660 and 30,256 respectively.) I
Water.—The water supply of Willesden is derived from the mains of the Metropolitan Water Board and I
the Colne Valley Water Company. The service is constant and the water of excellent quality. I
Factories Act, 1937.—The provisioning of Part I of the Act, relating to Sanitary Conveniences, is enforce- I
able by the District Council. I
| No. of premises inspected on complaint | 7,473 |
| No. of premises inspected in connection with infectious diseases | 6 |
| No. of periodical inspections of premises | 1,540 |
| Houses inspected from House-to-House (Housing Act) | - |
| For certificates or reports under Rent Acts | 13 |
| Public House Urinals | 168 |
| Mews and Stables | 28 |
| Miscellaneous | 895 |
| Smoke Observations | 276 |
| Ministry of Health Circular 2845 (Inadequately Housed Families) | 2,216 |
| Total No. of primary inspections | 12,615 |
| Re-inspections (for all purposes) | 9,009 |
| Total No. of Inspections and Re-inspections | 21,624 |
The following table shows the detail of work done during the year in disinfesting dwelling-houses, other premises and chattels. The use of sulphur dioxide and preparations containing pyrethrum and derris root was, to a large extent, superseded by the use of D.D.T. in liquid and powder forms, and much greater success in the eradication of vermin has been experienced. Bedding materials found to be verminous have been de-infested in the steam disinfector at the Isolation Hospital. Other furniture found to be verminous has either been left in rooms under sulphur dioxide or, in bad cases, has been treated in hydrogen-cyanide vans by a private firm.
| (a) | |
| No. of applications to rooms in private dwelling-houses (Note : Some rooms treated more than once.) | 482 |
| No. of applications for beetle infestations in canteens, etc. | - |
| No. of street shelters disinfested (bays) | 301 |
| (b) | |
| No. of verminous rooms cleansed | 292 |
| No. disinfested under Council's Scheme | 145 |
| No. of primary inspections of verminous premises | 100 |
| No. of re-inspections | 155 |
| (c) Disinfestation by H.C.N., carried out by Contractors. | |
| No. of removal disinfestations | 20 |
| No. of premises disinfested by H.C. | - |
| Disinfestation of bedding at Municipal Hospital (loads) | 59 + 4 moths |