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

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Malden and Coombe 1923

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Malden and Coombe]

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14
Factory and workshops 7
Caravans, tents, etc. 1
Surface water combined drains connected to sewer 1
Miscellaneous 59
This is a slight decrease on last year's total, but in addition to this,
the fact that 58 of the Council Houses on the Mount Pleasant Estate were
decorated during the year and that numerous repairs to roofs, W.C.'s,
cisterns, etc., were also effected under the direct supervision of this department,
must be taken into consideration.
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Premises where cases of infectious diseases occurred have been visited
and in some cases the drains were tested.
The principals of the various schools where patients or contacts attended
were immediately notified. During the year it was necessary to
send 26 notifications in respect of 39 children. Detailed inquiries are made
after each of the principal infectious diseases with the object of at once
ascertaining the origin and endeavouring to prevent an extension of the
disease.
The following rooms were disinfected for the undermentioned causes:—
Scarlet fever
19
Diphtheria
10
Deaths
6
Tuberculosis
8
Pneumonia
3
Chicken Pox
2
Vermin
3
Schools and Creche
2 .
Miscellaneous
1
Total
54
In many cases, and in addition to the above, a bottle of disinfectant
is left at the house to enable the occupier to clean down woodwork, floors,
chairs and bedsteads. Little good can be done by fumigating a dirty room
which is allowed afterwards to remain dirty, and encouragement is given
on these occasions, at dirty homes, to effect improvement in this direction.
No arrangements exist for disinfecting bedding within the district. Any
to be done is sent to Tolworth, who make a charge of 8s. 6d. per load
excluding cartage. There are no arrangements within the district for disinfestation.
TENTS, VANS, ETC.
Considerable trouble was experienced at the beginning of the year with
an encampment of tents and vans used for habitation, and vigorous steps
had to be undertaken to prevent the nuisance and annoyance occasioned
thereby. After a good deal of correspondence and interviews I was successful
in getting the field cleared of all the vans, etc. Many of these vans
were dirty and caused annoyance to the adjoining occupiers by requests
for water, etc.
Towards the end of the year a few other vans encamped on the land, but
inspections of these have disclosed cleanly conditions and a much more respectable
occupant, and I have not therefore had occasion to object to their
presence.