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
Deptford 1915
Annual report on the health of the Metropolitan Borough of Deptford
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85
The degree of exposure of books whilst in infected houses varies
very widely, and it is not desirable to make any hard and fast rule as
to how books from infected houses should be dealt with.
| Total number of Premises disinfected | 1105 |
| ,, ,, Rooms ,, | 1230 |
| ,, ,, Beds ,, | 765 |
| ,, ,, Pillows „ | 1541 |
| „ ,, Bolsters ,, | 554 |
| ,, ,, Mattresses ,, | 279 |
| ,, ,, Sheets ,, | 771 |
| ,, „ Blankets ,, | 1345 |
| ,, ,, Odd articles ,, | 2977 |
| Total articles | 8232 |
| Total number of Beds destroyed | 11 |
| „ ,, Mattresses „ | 17 |
| ,, ,, Odd articles ,, | 61 |
| „ ,, Pillows ,, | 12 |
| „ ,, Bolsters ,, | 7 |
N.B.—The above articles were destroyed at the request of the owners.
Cleansing of Children attending the Elementary
Schools in Deptford.
Three-and-a-half years ago this Council commenced the systematic
cleansing of verminous children attending the County Council Elementary
Schools in the Borough.
An agreement was made with the County Council whereby the
Borough Council is paid for each child cleansed. The municipal
cleansing station is therefore self-supporting and is situate in Watson
Street, adjoining the disinfecting station. The chief form of vermin
found have been head and body lice. In conjunction with body
cleansing, the staff of the Public Health Department have been
engaged in cleansing the clothes, bedding and rooms in connection with
these children.
During the period that we have undertaken this work 2,817 children
have been cleansed, a large proportion of these only once, but many
others twice, and some three times in the same month. In all 5,696
baths have been given and 5,696 sets of clothing have been disinfected.