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
Edmonton 1941
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Edmonton]
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SANITARY CONVENIENCES
There are seven Public Conveniences in the Borough which are kept under constant
supervision by the Public Health Department.
RATS AND MICE (DESTRUCTION) ACT, 1919
The Middlesex County Council is the authority for this Borough under the Act
which places the responsibility upon the occupier of the premises infested, but the
Rat Destruction Officer of the Council Council is always willing to give advice.
The Inspectors of the Public Health Department often examine the drainage of premises
where it might be possible that the infestation is due to a defect in the house
drainage system.
MIDDLESEX COUNTY COUNCIL (GENERAL POWERS) ACT, 1958: SECTION 71
HAWKERS, ETC.
This Act came into operation on the 1st January, 1939, the Council together with
other Local Authorities considered the adoptive sections and put the necessary
resolutions and action into being regarding Sections 70 and 71. No new applications
were received during 1941.
DISINFECTION AND DISINFESTATION
As reported in 1940, the Council's disinfecting station was completely destroyed
and the sanction of the Ministry of Health has now been obtained for a loan for the
provision of a new disinfecting station and steam disinfector.
During the year, the work has been carried out at the Enfield disinfecting
station and I would like to take this opportunity of expressing my thanks for the
co-operation received from the Enfield authorities in this matter.
The following table gives some idea of the work carried out:-
| Number of journeys to collect bedding | 271 |
| do do return bedding | 261 |
| Rooms disinfected after infectious disease | 527 |
| Rooms disinfected after phthisis | 94 |
| Disinfestation carried out after vermin | 181 |
| Bedding, clothing, etc. disinfected after infectious disease | 2,261 articles |
| do do do phthisis | 992 do |
| do do do other cases | 2,852 do |
The Council distribute a disinfecting powder and fluid to residents who apply
for the same at the Town Hall Yard. During the year, the applicants numbered
18,462. One hour daily is allowed for such distribution with the exception of
Fridays and Saturdays. A Formalin chamber is used for the disinfection of books,
leather goods, etc, - articles that would be damaged by steam. The number of
books and other articles thus disinfected was 389.
Seven Council houses and 101 other houses were found to be infested and the
total number of rooms disinfected was 131. The whole of the work is. carried out
by the Department, the materials used being Block Disinfestators combined with the
use of Insecticides such as Pyagra, etc.
PETROLEUM (REGULATIONS) ACTS, 1928 & 1936
During the year , 2 raw licences and 114 renewals were granted by the Council.
The following is a list of particulars of quantities, etc,, affected by these
licences:-
Petroleum spirit gallons
Petroleum mixtures „
Carbide of calcium tons
MORTUARY
During the year, 87 bodies were deposited in the Mortuary, 75 by order of the
Coroner and 12 for sanitary reasons.