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

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Southall 1939

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Southall]

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PREVALENCE OF, AND CONTROL OVER, INFECTIOUS AND OTHER
DISEASES.
The Southall Isolation Hospital continued to take cases during the year, and
along with reciprocal arrangements with the Ealing, Brentford and Chiswick Hospital,
it was possible to deal with all the cases of infectious disease notified.
Little progress was made in the negotiations for the formation of a joint management
of the hospitals in this area of the County.
The difficulty referred to in the last Report in the proper isolation of suspicious
cases continues because of the lack of cubicle accommodation. It will, therefore, be
an advantage when the question of the isolation accommodation in this area generally is
finally settled.
Provision of Antitoxin.
The Council provides antitoxin free to local medical practitioners for cases of
diphtheria in the district.
The Ministry of Health has also sanctioned the supply of tetanus antitoxin by the
Council to local practitioners if such is required.
Diphtheria and tetanus antitoxin can always be obtained at the Health Department
during office hours or at the Isolation Hospital at other times.
Vaccination.
The total number of successful vaccination certificates received during the year
was 278, and the number of certificates of exemption issued were 285.
The following table gives details of the percentage of children successfully vaccinated
during the last seven years:—

Table No. 34.

YearLive BirthsVaccination CertificatesExemptionsPercentage of vaccinations to live births
193370522830633
193475928225937
193580930128637
193679731229939
193781428730935
193882526529832
193980527828534

Disinfection.
In cases of infectious disease, rooms, clothing, etc., are disinfected—rooms by
sealing and fumigating with formalin or a formalin preparation; clothing, bedding,
etc., and infected articles which can be removed for steam disinfection, by treatment in
the disinfector at the hospital.
List of premises, articles., etc., disinfected during the year:—
Rooms 149 Covers 120
Beds 244 Eiderdowns 46
Blankets 831 Pillows 388
Bolsters 109 Sheets 206
Books 110 Miscellaneous 99
Total 2,302
The following articles were destroyed:18 mattresses, 4 bolsters, 2 sheets. 3
pillows, 2 blankets, 1 eiderdown, 56 articles of clothing.
32