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 1917
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hackney]
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28
DISINFECTION.
(a) Rooms.—During 1917 there were 1,988 rooms fumigated
and 257 rooms cleansed in the Borough by the staff of the Public
Health Department. These totals include disinfections after
measles, whooping cough and tuberculosis, in addition to those in
connection with notifiable infectious diseases.
(b) Articles of Clothing, Furniture, &c.—The number of articles under this head disinfected during last year was as follows:—
| House, linen and furniture | 9,790 |
| Men's clothing | 198 |
| Women's clothing | 268 |
| Children's clothing | 48 |
| Other articles | 2,322 |
| Total | 12,626 |
(c) Public Library Books.—During the past year 295 books
from homes in which infectious diseases had occurred were disinfected.
THE SHELTER.
During 1917 there were 14 persons admitted to the shelter
whilst their homes were being disinfected.
CLEANSING OF PERSONS ACT, 1897.
The baths provided by the Borough Council under the above
Act for the cleansing of verminous persons were in constant use
during last year, 2,164 baths being given during that period. This
total shows an increase of 877 upon the number given during 1916,
Of the 2,164 baths given, 1,538 were sulphur baths for scabies
and 626 for pediculi. The great majority of those persons presenting
themselves for baths were children from the elementary schools in
the Borough. These children received 2,095 baths, an increase of
254 upon the number given during 1916. Of those persons receiving
hot baths, 19 were men and 607 children; of those receiving
ulphur baths, 12 were men, 38 women and 1,488 children.