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
Battersea 1947
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Battersea Borough]
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38
Personal Cleansing Station.
During the year 1947 there were 4,179 children and 986 adults
cleansed and treated at the station. Of the 4,179 children attending)
1,224 were suffering from scabies or itch, a contagious parasitic skin
affection. The remainder were verminous.. Of these children 3,924
attended from the public elementary schools in the Borough by arrangement
with the London County Council, who have entered into a
contract with the Borough Council for the use of their Personal
Cleansing Station. The cleansing and treatment of the school children
is carried out under the supervision of officers of the London County
Council while the disinfestation of the clothing and (if necessary) of
the homes is carried out concurrently by the Borough Council's
sanitary staff.
Head Lice.—It has been the practice for many years to refer
to the Personal Cleansing Station all cases of head lice discovered
by the staff during home visiting, at the Welfare Centres, or at Da)'
Nurseries.
The following table shows the numbers of persons cleansed and treated at the Personal .Cleansing Station and the expenditure incurred since 1906, the year in which the cleansing of verminous persons was begun : — Number of Baths, &c.
| Year | Adults | Children | *Expenditure | * Amount Contributed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verminous and Scabies | Verminous and Scabies | £ | ||
| 1906-1915 | 10,443 | 6,430 | 1,037 | 303 |
| 1916-1925 | 3,269 | 39,117 | 5,007 | 3,155 |
| 1926-1935 | 2,404 | 39,293 | 8,521 | 4,045 |
| 1936 | 265 | 4,524 | 723 | 403 |
| 1937 | 389 | 4,256 | 729 | 403 |
| 1938 | 432 | 3,808 | 820 | 402 |
| 1939 | 534 | 2,820 | 795 | 402 |
| 1940 | 778 | 3,497 | 866 | 404 |
| 1941 | 2,558 | 5,456 | 1,026 | 435 |
| 1942 | 3,083 | 6,656 | 1,059 | 440 |
| 1943 | 2,017 | 5,223 | 1,149 | 422 |
| 1944 | 1,798 | 3,931 | 1,100 | 441 |
| 1945 | 1,885 | 3,277 | 1,179 | 454 |
| 1946 | 1,822 | 4,229 | 1,352 | 443 |
| 1947 | 986 | 4,179 | 1,402 | 424 |
| Total | 32,663 | 136,696 | 26,765 | 12,576 |
* Financial year ending 31st March. Other columns, calendar year.
Rats and Mice (Destruction) Act, 1919.
This Act imposes on local authorities and occupiers of premises
responsibilities in connection with rat repression.