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

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Wimbledon 1920

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wimbledon]

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Infectious Disease and Disinfection.— During the year
visits for the purpose of investigating cases of notifiable infectious
disease were made to 399 houses. Special visits were
also made, as required, for the purpose of following up and
inquiring after the health of persons who had been passengers
on vessels coming to this country on which cases of infectious
disease had occurred, and of which notice had been received
from the Port Sanitary Authorities concerned. The information
obtained was handed to the Medical Officer of Health.
At 98 houses from which cases of notifiable infectious
disease had been reported, defective drains or other insanitary
conditions were found to exist, all of which were subsequently
remedied under the supervision of the officers of the Department.
Disinfection of rooms, bedding, clothing, etc., was duly
carried out after the removal to hospital or recovery of each
patient. Where necessary the walls of the rooms from which
the cases had been removed were stripped and re-papered or
distempered.
The number of rooms disinfected was 408, and the number
of articles, bedding, wearing apparel, etc., 15,557, Full details
of which are given in the Report of the Medical Officer of
Health under the heading of "Disinfection."
School Disinfection.— All the Public Elementary Schools
in the district were thoroughly disinfected during the summer
vacation.
Yard Paving. — In the course of the inspections made
during the year, 92 yards were found to be in an unsatisfactory
state, due either to the absence of any paving or the defective
condition of that which did exist. The power to deal with
this class of nuisance has been greatly strengthened by the
adoption of Section 25 of the Public Health Acts (Amendment)
Act, 1907.
Stable Refuse.— Continued attention has been paid to the
mews and stable yards in the district, 64 visits having been
made to such premises during the year.
Inspections under the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901.—
Thirty inspections of factories were made during the year and
one written notice served referring to sanitary conveniences
and other nuisances.
There are 357 workshops and work places on the Register,
to which 185 visits of inspection were made.
Seventy-four workshops and work-places were found to be
closed and twenty-six new ones opened during the year.
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