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

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Hackney 1881

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hackney]

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17
were reported to me at the end of September, and on making
enquiry, it was found that both the children had attended this
school, which, as they did not live even in the same road,
pointed to the school as the source of infection. On making
enquiry it was found that several other children had died or
were ill, concerning whom there had not then been any return,
so that the disease had got a hold before I knew anything about
it. I made an inspection of the school, and found that the rain
water pipes opened near to the windows of the infant school in
which the disease occurred, and that offensive drain smells had
been noticed in this room. These pipes were immediately cut
off from the drains, when the disease ceased as regards the
scholars, but remained a little longer in the neighbourhood.
There were a few other cases amongst scholars, but they appear
to have taken it from other sources. For instance, a child of
six years who went to the school, was attacked with it three
days after the death of a young sister aged 2 years, who did not
attend any school. The next outbreak in connection with a school
was more limited affecting six children. I carefully inspected the
drainage arrangements in this school also, when four rain-water
pipes were found to be connected with the drains, and there was a
bell trap in the yard. The pipes were immediately disconnected
from the drains, and a yard gulley trap substituted for the bell
trap, when the disease disappeared. The whole of these deaths
occurred between the 11th and 29th of November. In consequence
of these outbreaks, all the School Board and other
large Schools in this District were examined carefully as to
the sanitary arrangements, which were found more or less
defective in nearly all. The necessary works as regards better
paving, drainage, ventilation and privy accommodation have
been carried out. The water supply was of course examined in
all instances.
The following is the list of Schools examined:—
Board School High Street, Stoke Newington.
„ „ Gainsborough Eoad, Hackney Wick.