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 1954
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hackney]
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and bedding from the London County Council's welfare centres and day nurseries
in the Borough.
The following is a summary of disinfection and disinfestation work carried out at the Station and elsewhere: -
| (a) After the occurrence of infectious and contagious disease | - | |
| Rooms disinfected | 1, 297 | |
| Bedding and clothing disinfected | 22, 246 | articles |
| Bedding and clothing destroyed | 112 | „ |
| Public Library and other books disinfected | 16,655 | |
| (b) For the destruction of vermin- | ||
| Rooms disinfested | 527 | |
| Bedding, clothing, etc., destroyed | 1,944 | articles |
| Beds, mattresses, blankets, etc., treated in cyanide gas chambers | 252 | „ |
| Furniture treated in cyanide gas chambers (including 80 loads treated on behalf of Tottenham Borough Council) | 122 | van loads |
| Disinfested by other means | 3,217 | articles |
| (c) For disinfection prior to export by private firms- | ||
| Clothing | 42,871 | articles |
| Miscellaneous clothing | 8 | tons |
| Felt hats | 13,878 | articles |
| Sacks | 12, 000 | |
| Straw envelopes | 2,258 | bundles |
| Ladies felt hats | 16,000 | lbs. |
| Hatter's felt waste | 17 tons 9 cwt | 0 qrs, 2 lbs. |
| (d) Miscellaneous- | ||
| Bedding dried and aired | 69 | articles |
| Unwholesome articles destroyed | 105 Van loads | 157 bins |
| Bombed sites cleared (burnt and buried on site) | 78 | |
| Wasps destroyed | 10 | nests |
| Bees destroyed | 2 | swarms |
| Static water tanks (sprayed) | 4 | tanks |
In certain circumstances, excluding infectious disease, charges are made
for the disinfection and disinfestation of rooms, furniture and other articles.
For these services £331 7s, 4d. was collected, including £118 13s. 2d. from the
Council's Housing Department in respect of work carried out at the request of
that department. In addition a sum of £107 18s. l1d was received for the
removal of articles from various premises and sites; this total includes the
amount of £22 14s. 4d. for work also undertaken on behalf of the Housing
Department.
It will be noted that a very considerable amount of disinfection of
secondhand clothing prior to export was carried out at the request of private
firms. For this service a sum of £1,649 10s. l1d. was received.
DISINFECTANTS AND INSECTICIDES. Stocks of disinfectants, insecticides, rat
poisons, etc., are stored in the departmental depot in Hillman Street. No
charge is made for disinfectants issued to cases of infectious disease, including
tuberculosis. Various preparations are on sale to the public, and sales
of disinfectants, insecticides and rat poison during the year totalled
£685 15s, 6d.
HOMERTON HIGH STREET STORES. The Public Health Department has the use of the
second floor of the Borough Council's depot at 186 Homerton High Street. In
addition to departmental stores, the furniture and effects of deceased persons
who have been buried by the Council in accordance with the provisions of the
National Assistance Act are, pending disposal, housed there, Up to 31st
December, 1954, by arrangement with the London County Council, day nursery
equipment etc. was also stored there.