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
Shoreditch 1898
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Shoreditch]
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disinfected, was 12,232, and included 870 beds, 1,535 pillows, 639 palliasses, 572
bolsters, and 8,616 miscellaneous articles, including clothing, curtains, carpets,
various other textile articles, and leather goods. In addition, 11 beds, 24½ palliasses,
2 pillows and 1 squab were so contaminated and in such bad condition that it was
necessary to destroy them. These were replaced by the Vestry. No cases of
damage, either to the articles passed through the disinfecting apparatus, or caused
by the measures taken for the disinfection of any of the premises dealt with during
the year, came under my notice, and so far as could be judged the results of the
measures taken were satisfactory.
In the following table are contained the numbers of premises and articles
disinfected during the seven years, 1891-97 inclusive:—
TABLE XXII.
| Year. | Number of Premises. | Number of Beds. | Number of Pillows. | Number of Palliasses. | Number of Bolsters. | Number of Other Articles. | Total Number of Articles. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1891 | 816 | 833 | 1,602 | 568 | 504 | 6,123 | 9,630 |
| 1892 | 1,027 | 1,157 | 1,801 | 545 | 559 | 6,758 | 10,820 |
| 1893 | 1,863 | 1,313 | 2,186 | 645 | 767 | 6,918 | 11,829 |
| 1894 | 912 | 843 | 1,522 | 647 | 549 | 7,474 | 11,035 |
| 1895 | 828 | 774 | 1,459 | 548 | 404 | 8,179 | 11,364 |
| 1896 | 1,116 | 1,117 | 2,034 | 818 | 600 | 8,660 | 13,229 |
| 1897 | 1,106 | 956 | 1,810 | 679 | 622 | 7,026 | 11,093 |
During the autumn a thorough examination was made of the boiler of the disinfector,
and the hydraulic test was applied. The boiler was subjected to a water test of
40 lbs. per square inch, which pressure was maintained for 30 minutes, and during the
time the inspector of the National Boiler and General Insurance Company made a
careful examination of all points visible. The result of the test was
considered satisfactory. To enable the inspection being made one
side of the apparatus was entirely bared of brick work, and the other side was
made accessible by the removal of the brick work at one end, and the crown plate
was also made accessible to examination from one side by the removal of one side
wall. The condition of the apparatus, which was thoroughly overhauled, in all parts
examined was found satisfactory. There was a local corrosion about one-eight of an
inch deep round one of the pipes which was found to be leaky and defective and
required replacing by a new length of pipe. The mudholes in the bottom and sides
of the chamber were opened, and the interior of the boiler was examined and the
parts visible were found to be in order.
DISINFECTANTS.
From the middle of June to the end of November packets of disinfecting powder
were distributed free of charge to persons making application to the Public Health
Department at the Town Hall. In each instance inquiry was made as to the purposes