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 1904
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Shoreditch]
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including clothing, linen, carpets, curtains and the like. Sometimes bedding is found to
be, besides being contaminated with infection, in such a worn-out and filthy condition
that it is necessary to destroy it. During the year seven beds and ten mattresses were
so destroyed, being burnt in a furnace at th Disinfecting Station. In the Report for
1903 it was mentioned that the use of sulphur for fumigating infected rooms had been
discontinued save in exceptional cases, formalin as a spray being substituted. A 2
per cent solution of formalin was tried for several months, but whilst there is no reason
to be dissatisfied with the results of its use as a disinfecting agent, it was found to be
very trying to the eyes and especially the skin of the officer manipulating the spraying
apparatus. In the course of a few months he was the victim of a dermatitis affecting
the face, neck, hands and fore-arms, which persisted although he wore a mask and
used india-rubber gloves. Formalin had, therefore, to be given up and during the latter
part of the year a 2-per-cent. solution of Betalysol in the form of a spray was used
instead. This agent has not an unpleasant smell, and it has not been complained
of either by the officers using it or the people whose rooms have been sprayed, and so
far as can be judged it has proved satisfactory for the purpose for which it is used.
The use of sulphur is retained for smallpox cases. Rooms infected with smallpox
are kept for 24 hours under fumigation with sulphur fumes and are then sprayed, being
subsequently cleansed by the occupants.
No complaints were received as to any damage caused by the measures taken for the
purpose of disinfection during the year.
THE SHELTER.
| Date of Admission to Shelter. | Length of stay therein. | Number of Persons. | Address from which the persons were admitted to the Shelter. | Disease. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb. 22nd | 1 day | 4 | 7, Bridport Place | Small-pox |
| July 15th | 1 day & night | 7 | 2, Hoxton Street | Small-pox |
| July 16th | 1 day | 6 | 5, Hoxton Place | Small-pox |
| July 24th | 1 day | 5 | 2, Hoxton Place | Small-pox |
| July 27th | 1 day | 4 | 4, Crooked Billet Yard | Small-pox |
| July 28th | 1 day | 13 | 97, Wilmer Gardens ... | Small-pox |
| July 30th | 1 night | 4 | 57, Phillip Street | Small-pox |
The Shelter was used on seven occasions by 43 persons belonging to 9 families. Its use
is of very great value in enabling efficient measures as to disinfecting in dangerous cases
of infectious disease being properly carried out, and it has undoubtedly had a very beneficial
action in controlling the spread of smallpox in the Borough during recent years.