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

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Wealdstone 1904

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wealdstone]

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7
system of sewers is adequate and in good order. Our
system of disinfection for rooms is by the use of Formic
Aldehyde with sulphur as vapour and spray. Articles
of clothing, bedding, etc., are disinfected by means of
Thresh's steam disinfector with Formic Aldehyde
added.
Every case of infectious disease certified is visited
by the Medical Officer of Health and Sanitary Inspector.
The County Medical Officer has now arranged a system
for a weekly inter-change of information between the
Medical Officers of each district as to the prevalence or
otherwise of infectious sickness in their districts. This
information will prove of much interest and value and
has been long needed
SUMMARY OF PREVAILING DISEASES IN
THE DISTRICT DURING 1904.
In February there was much sore throat, and bronchial
affections and rheumatism. Measles were prevalent
in March. Previous to June 14th there was a period of
three months when the district was entirely free from
any certifiable infectious disease. During July, August
and part of September, zymotic diarrhoea and gastritis
were very prevalent amongst infants and caused 9
deaths. The deaths for this quarter reached (for us)
the large number of 24. During November and December
influenza and rheumatism and affections of the
respiratory organs were prevalent. In the latter half of
the year scarlet fever was more or less sporadic.
Reports on the health of the district generally,
especially as regards the occurrence of infectious
diseases and nuisances, and of inspections made by me
having been furnished to the Council at each meeting
some of the matter contained in this Report will have
been presented before, but instructions issued to Medical
Officers of Health by the Local Government Board as
to the nature and extent of their reports require me to
refer to these matters again.
HOUSING OF WORKING CLASSES, OVERCROWDING,
Etc.
In regard to this subject there is unfortunately no
doubt but that in some houses overcrowding to a greater
or less degree exists. This is a condition difficult to