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Annual Report of the Medical Officer of Health—1892.
45
appendix b.
Report on a Proposed Reception House
I was, on my appointment as your adviser and administer in matters
taining to the public health, specially requested, as one of my duties, to enquire
and ascertain by such ways and means as were at my disposal, the causes,
gin, and distribution of diseases, within this Parish and to ascertain to what
ent the same have depended on conditions capable of removal or mitigation
With this object in view, I have so far personally visited the premises.
???itainmg every case of infectious disease notified me, and have reported
served and recurring facts at each meeting of this Vestry.
I have been especially struck by the comparatively high—so called zymotic—
in plain English, preventable death-rate in this district, as compared with that
the whole of London.
I have asked myself the question, more than once, are the conditions producation
this result capable of removal or mitigation? Prompt isolation, by removal into
Infectious Hospitals, of a large per centage of these cases is alone insufficient
her preventative measures must be adopted. I believe, happily, we are all agreed
to the paramount necessity—short of burning—of submitting infected goods to a
???iable disinfecting apparatus. Where this is impossible, as in the case of rooms,
???rniture, &c., the next supplemental measure of importance, in my opinion, is to
???iciently fumigate, by means of burning sulphur, followed by the purifying effect of
???nty of fresh air and light. Soap and water, also, are useful adjuncts.
By efficient fumigation, I mean the fumes from 1½ 1bs. of sulphur for etch
???00 cubic feet of space left in the closed apartment during a minimum period of
???ht hours, and followed by the oxydising and purifying effect of pure air made
ailable by the free opening of windows, and, where possible, of doors also, nil b\
e germ-killing action of light: and this during a period of 24, or bettor still, 36
>urs.
The following Table gives a Return of Tenements and Diseases in which
???migation (as just defined) has been impracticable, owing to the tenants having no
???oms to go to during the process, during the last Six Months.
Disease.
No. of Infected Tenements.
No. of Persons occupying
Infected Tenements,
1
Room.
2
Rooms.
3
Booms.
Total.
1
Room.
2
Rooms.
3
Rooms.
Total.
scarlet Fever
21
52
6
79
69
260
40
369
Diphtheria ...
7
11
0
18
24
46
0
70
???irysipelas ...
10
10
0
20
22
33
0
55
???interic or Typhoid Fever
4
2
0
6
9
5
0
14
???uerperal Fever ...
3
0
0
3
13
0
0
13
Total
45
75
6
126
137
344
40
521