Body of box van used to transport domestic material to be disinfected or destroyed, used during slum clearances and diseases outbreaks in the London borough of Lambeth, probably made c.1925-1935
Used within the London borough of Lambeth, this box was used to transport domestic material to a depot for disinfection during slum clearances, after disease outbreaks or because of pest infestations. Disinfection did not take place within the box, but in a large steam disinfector at the borough's disinfecting station. Large scale epidemics were increasingly rare during the early 1900s. However, local outbreaks of diseases such as diphtheria, scarlet fever and measles still caused fatalities. Disinfection stations and the vehicles used to take belongings to and from them are indicative of the public health measures adopted by local government to control the spread of diseases.
Details
- Category:
- Public Health & Hygiene
- Object Number:
- 1990-514
- Measurements:
-
overall: 1800 mm x 1600 mm x 2400 mm, 400 kg
- type:
- van body
- credit:
- Collier, B.