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

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Wealdstone 1910

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wealdstone]

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20
arrange for a steam disinfector, to be erected at the sametime,
and worked in conjunction with the destructor. I
have alluded to this matter when commenting upon the:
subject of infectious diseases and disinfection generally.
If it could be arranged I believe a bi-weekly collection
of refuse during the summer months would be a great
benefit to the health of the district and materially help
to keep down the pest of flies, which are such a nuisance
and danger to health through their acting as carriers of
infectious germs far and wide, and their depositing of them
anywhere and everywhere, without respect of persons or
things.
DESTRUCTION OF RATS.
In accordance with a communication from the
Local Government Board with reference to the occurrence
of cases of plague in rats in certain parts of
England and authorising the Councils throughout the
land to take measures for their destruction and for
preventing their entrance into houses and other premises
the Council instructed their Sanitary Officers to take
measures for this purpose. A supply of Danysz Viruswas
procured and used in destroying these pests at the
Sewage Disposal Works on a certain date, and the
Council invited by circular letter all manufacturers,
contractors, tradesmen, and others to co-operate and
assist in this work by using the same Virus at their respective
premises on the same date. The result appears
to have been very satisfactory, for since using the Virus
very few rats have been noticed at the works.
METHOD EMPLOYED TO DISINFECT PREMISESAFTER
INFECTIOUS SICKNESS, &c.
Premises are disinfected by fumigation by means of
Formalin, and a strong solution of the same disinfectant
is used for spraying wall surfaces, furniture, staircases,
&c. There is a very small portable apparatus for disinfecting
woollen articles by means of super-heated steam,
but it is too small to be of much real service, and for the
proper and up-to-date disinfection of bedding and clothes
a steam apparatus of reasonable size is urgently needed.
This will, of course, entail a considerable outlay at the
time of purchasing, but I consider that the requirements
of the district are such as to require this now, and its
advantages would soon compensate for the initial cost.
The arrangement with the Hendon Rural District Council
for treatment of our scarlet fever and diphtheria cases