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
Hackney 1912
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hackney]
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108
London County Council (General Powers) Act 1904.
Under part IV. of this Act, a Sanitary Authority on the Certificate
of their Medical Officer of Health may cleanse or purify or
destroy at their own expense, any articles in any house in their
district which are in such a filthy, dangerous or unwholesome condition
that health is affected or endangered thereby, or to prevent
risk of, or to check infectious disease.
I had all these inspected, with the following result:—
| No. of Homes Inspected. | No. of Homes where Rooms alone were found Verminous. | No. of Homes where Bedding or Clothes and Rooms were found Verminous. | No. of Homes not Verminous. |
|---|---|---|---|
Amongst the 118 verminous homes there were 30 where bedding
and clothes were found to be infected as well as the walls of the
rooms. The bedding and clothing were taken in these instances to
the disinfecting station and steamed. Some of the verminous rooms
were fumigated and others sprayed with a germicide, these latter
numbered 55 ; and, where necessary, notices were served upon
the owners to cleanse and strip the rooms to free them from vermin.
I find that fumigation alone does not destroy all the vermin;
thorough spraying with a germicidal solution is more effectual in
destroying both the adult vermin and their eggs.
Removal and Disposal of House Refuse—whether by Local Authority
or Contractors; Frequency and Method.
The house refuse is removed from occupied houses in the
Borough by contractors, at a certain price per ton removed and
delivered at the Destructor. The Contractors have to supply a