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
Wimbledon 1930
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wimbledon]
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| Disease. | Mattresses. | Palliasses and Counterpanes. | Beds. | Pillows and Bolsters. | Blankets and Sheets. | Presses | Suits. | Other Articles. | No. of Room Disinfected. | Tot.m.s. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scarlet Fever | 369 | 198 | 39 | 611 | 1173 | 30 | 65 | 3545 | 201 | 6231 |
| Diphtheria | 407 | 208 | 53 | 720 | 1263 | 43 | 9G | 3785 | 191 | 6766 |
| Typhoid Fever | 2 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 5 | — | - | — | — | 19 |
| Erysipelas | 9 | 6 | 31 | 55 | 1 | 4 | 162 | 14 | 297 | |
| Tuberculosis | 49 | 26 | 18 | 138 | 127 | 1 | — | 161 | 61 | 581 |
| Cancer | 11 | 5 | 4 | 61 | 22 | — | — | 66 | 28 | 197 |
| Pneumonia and | ||||||||||
| Influenza | 1 | 1 | — | 3 | 6 | — | — | 1 | 2 | 14 |
| Smallpox | 2 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 17 | — | — | 12 | 9 | 55 |
| Vermin | 5 | — | — | 9 | 14 | — | — | 1 | 41 | 70 |
| Sundries | 136 | 45 | 13 | 360 | 460 | 4 | 11 | 1448 | 100 | 2577 |
| Totals | 997 | 500 | 136 | 1949 | 3142 | 79 | 176 | 9181 | 647 | 168j7 |
Details of this work are given in the report of the Chief
Sanitary Inspector. It will be noted that 647 rooms and 16,160
articles of bedding, wearing apparel, etc., were disinfected by
the Public Health Department.
Speaking generally, infections diseases are chiefly spread by
mild unrecognised cases and " carriers " and not by inanimate
objects. Otherwise many infectious diseases would have been
stamped out long ago. Experience has shown that thorough
cleansing with soap and water together with the free admission
of sunlight and fresh air into infected rooms is a safe and wholesome
procedure to adopt. The modern tendency is to rely less
upon the older methods of disinfection.
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