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

City of London 1919

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Port of London]

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Table: TABLE XXVI.Number ofDisinfections ofEffects, Bedding, &c., from1stJanuary to31stDecember, 1919.

TABLE XXVI.

Number ofDisinfections ofEffects, Bedding, &c., from1stJanuary to31stDecember, 1919.

Month.Reason for Disinfection.Hospital Bedding, kc.Total Effects.Number of times S<eam Disinfector was userl.Disinfected by Fumigation.
Cholera.Chickenpox.Cerebrospinal Meningitis.Continued Fever.Diphtheria.Enteric Fever.Malaria.Measles.Pulmonary Tuberculosis, &c.Plague.Influenza.Scarlet Fever.SmallpoxPrecautionary ' Measure.
January1........................1............132...
February......................................................
March............2......1............1......431
April...1.........1.......... . .......2...1521
May...1.........1...11.........3...2933
June...............1...............12...276...
July...............2........................1511
August...............3.........1...............42...
September............12........................147...
October...1.........3...1...1............1751
November..........................................228...
December......1...12..................1......55...
Totals131...4153...13...191155447

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35
Annexed is a resume of the Local Government Board Begulations showing the New Duties
and Powers of the Port Sanitary Authorities to whom, amongst various Local Authorities, the
General Order is addressed :—
I.—The Regulations are dated 7th January, 1919, and come into force on 1st March.
II. (3).—The provisions apply to every ship, vessel, or boat as nearly as may be as if it were a
building, have effect throughout England and Wales, and shall be enforced and executed by
every Local Authority.
II. (1) (a).—A Port Sanitary Authority is a Local Authority by definition.
IV.—Notice of duties imposed on them is to be given to all Medical Practitioners resident
or practising within the district of the Port Sanitary Authority.
The Public Health (Pneumonia, Malaria, Dysentery, &c.) Regulations, 1919, came
into force on the 1st March, and the following letter was sent to shipowners known to
trade with London:—
Gentlemen,
NOTIFICATION OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE.
MALARIA, DYSENTEBY, TBENCH FEVER, ACUTE PRIMARY PNEUMONIA, ACUTE
INFLUENZAL PNEUMONIA.
These diseases have been made notifiable by the Public Health Regulations, 1919, in
addition to the diseases already scheduled as list attached.
May I ask your cooperation with the Port of London Sanitary Authority in the
matter as follows:—
Wherever a Medical Practitioner generally acts on your behalf on shipboard within the
jurisdiction of the Port Sanitary Authority, or is engaged as Medical Officer on your vessels,
I would ask that his duty under the above Regulations of notifying the diseases mentioned to
this office, be brought specifically to his notice by you.
Your obedient Servant,
W. M. WILLOUGHBY,
Medical Officer of Health,
Port of London.
List of scheduled diseases for attachment
Smallpox. Relapsing Fever.
Diphtheria. Continued Fever.
Membranous Croup. Measles and German Measles.
Scarlatina or Scarlet Fever. Cerebrospinal Fever.
Typhus Fever. Acute Poliomyelitis.
Typhoid Fever. Ophthalmia Neonatorum.
Enteric Fever. Tuberculosis.