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

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Barnes 1914

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Barnes]

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Vital Statistics. 35
The infantile death-rate for England and Wales for 1914
is 105 per 1000 births.
The infantile death-rate for London for 1914 is 103 per 1000
births.
The local infantile death-rate is only 63 6 per 1000.
* EPIDEMIC DIARRHCEA—PREVENTION OF DISEASE.
The attention of householders, occupiers of flats, tradesmen
and others, is directed to the highly objectionable practice that
prevails of depositing organic matter, viz. bones, scraps of meat,
fat, portions of fish, cabbage leaves, etc., in dust-bins.
All this waste matter soon undergoes putrefaction during hot
weather, and is therefore an excellent breeding ground for flies.
Flies are known to be carriers of deadly disease germs.
At the same time very offensive smells arise from the dust
receptacle, which although not annoying you may cause annoyance
to others.
During the summer months, when coal fires are not in use
continually, chloride of lime (a cheap disinfectant powder) shouid
be freely sprinkled over the contents of the dust-bin.
The dust-bin should—
1. Always be covered to keep the contents as dry as
possible.
2. Be kept away from the dwelling.
The practice of thus consuming refuse is not only economica j
and highly advisable for sanitary reasons, but by decreasing the
amount that has to be collected by the scavengers, has a direct
effect in relieving the charge upon the rates.
* Circular distributed throughout the district.