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

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Paddington 1871

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Paddington]

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from the Registrars' books, of those persons who have neglected
to send the legally required Certificate. In half of these, orders,
for Vaccination within 14 days were issued; the other half had
already been Vaccinated, but had neglected sending the Certificate
to the Registrar of Births. Some prosecutions have taken
place; some are still in abeyance, being cases where illness is
either a real or an alleged excuse for delay; time is given in
these cases, meanwhile they are subject to monthly re-inspection
until the Vaccination is performed.
The proceedings for carrying out the disinfection of Rooms
and infected things are as follows:—The Room, after a Small
Pox case has been removed is well closed up, and 3 or 4 pounds
of sulphur are ignited with coke in a stove, aud the chamber
kept closed for some hours: the paper is then striped off the
walls, and effectual washing and cleansing done. In some
instances we have used chloride of lime, to which dilute carbolic
acid has been added. This mixture gives off a very powerful
vapour, consisting of the chlorine gas, which is set free, and
some of the carbolic acid being also carried off at the same time.
Chlorine (simple) has also been used, it is set free by using the
chloride of lime with dilute sulphuric acid; a mixture also of
chloride of lime with sulphate of alum stirred up with water
gives off chlorine slowly. Those who prefer non-smelling disinfectants
have used dilute Condy, or chloralum, or chloride of
soda for washing and sprinkling floors or moistening a blanket to
be hung up in the room, and for immersing those articles which
require washing. The woollen articles and bedding have been
sent away in a closed conveyance to the Disinfection Contractor,
Messrs. Armfield & Sons, who exposes them freely to high
pressure steam, and afterwards dries them at a high temperature.
Those who are not able to pay for this, have had the work done
at the expense of the Vestry authority. Very few articles have
been ordered to be destroyed. I am glad to state that at
present there are few destitute persons whose tilings are so
absolutely worthless as to see fit to destroy them. Besides, this
work of disinfecting, carried out mostly under the eye of the
Inspector, who has a man to assist him, private families, where
medical men have attended, are ordered to do the work to the
satisfaction of such duly qualified medical practitioner, and a
certificate is forwarded to the Sanitary Department. Disinfectants,
with instructions, are also freely distributed from the
Vestry Hall, to such persons as may have need of them.
I must not omit to acknowledge the active and intelligent
services of Inspector Clifford. He has not only devoted his spare
time to the duties of his office, but assisted personally in the