London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Clerkenwell 1899
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Clerkenwell, St. James and St. John]
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84
w cn have been served, the infectious diseases, and the condition
of the drains. During 1899, 845 houses have thus been inspected.
Out of the total number of houses in the Parish (approximately
6,000) this number of inspections appears to be, and is in point of
fact, inadequate. But taking into account the small number of
inspectors for the whole district this work is really more than could
ave been reasonably expected. It has been carried out under
considerable pressure of routine work throughout the year.
THE MORTUARY AND SHELTER.
The total number of bodies received at the Mortuary in Northampton
Road during 1899 was 218 as compared with 217 in 1898.
Eleven bodies were brought in by the police and the remainder by
undertakers and private persons.
Out of the 218 cases there were 168 private burials and 50 Holborn
Guardian cases. These 218 cases may be divided as follows:—
| 1899. | 1898. | |
|---|---|---|
| Inquest cases | 158 | 168 |
| Infectious cases | 15 | 8 |
| Bodies deposited by Vestry orders | 12 | 10 |
| Bodies brought for convenience | ||
| of relatives, etc. | 33 | 31 |
| 218 | 217 |
Of the 158 inquests post-mortem examinations were necessary in
62 cases. The infectious cases included 1 of measles, 5 of enteric
fever, 2 of scarlet fever, and 7 of diphtheria.
The Shelter, 47, Northampton Road, contains six rooms furnished
for the use of persons temporarily displaced for disinfection purposes.
The Shelter is in charge of a caretaker who lives in the
next house. During 1899 the Shelter was used 24 times as against
21 in 1898. Probably its situation in proximity to the mortuary
militates against a larger measure of use. The Holborn Board of
Works use it in common with the Vestry.