Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Paddington]
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various parts of the Parish. The preventive
measures employed were of the following nature:—
(1) In all the localities as to which information
was received that the disease had appeared, house
to house visitation was immediately made, for the
purpose of ascertaining whether the children had
been vaccinated. In all cases of neglect, information
was given to the Vaccinator of the district;
and, in addition, a special notice was handed to*
the parents, requiring them forthwith to have the
unvaccinated child vaccinated. During the
months of January and February, 347 houses,
inhabited by 1435 families, were visited with
reference to vaccination; 88 notices were served
on parents, all of which were eventually complied
with.
(2) Whenever small.pox was known to exist,
the most efficient measures of disinfection were
carried out under my orders: infected linen and
wearing apparel were soaked in water containing
an ounce of solution of chloride of soda in each
gallon; such articles as could not be so cleansed
being burnt or otherwise destroyed.* The ceilings
and walls of infected rooms were washed with
quicklime water, and the wood.work cleansed with
soap and water; in addition to which, the practice
was usually followed of disengaging chlorine by
pouring dilute sulphuric acid over chloride of lime
in ajar, and allowing it to remain in any room
* In those, the parties, if poor, received compensation.