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
Lewisham 1953
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lewisham Borough]
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Table 13—
| West | North | South | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Articles received from cleansing station | - | 3700 | - | 3700 |
| Articles received from Coroner's court | - | 491 | - | 491 |
| Public library books treated after infection | 195 | 352 | 260 | 807 |
| Private library books treated after infection | 26 | 14 | 18 | 58 |
| Articles treated under the Public Health (London) Act s.122 | 6519 | 2675 | 17718 | 26912 |
A more detailed analysis of treatments for verminous conditions and for scabies is shown :—
| First cleansing | Second cleansing | Third cleansing | Fourth cleansing | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Children under 5 | 44 | 1 | - | - |
| School children | 654 | 77 | 8 | - |
| Adults | 51 | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| TOTALS | 749 | 83 | 10 | 1 |
Scabies
Cases Treatments
Children under 5 6 12
School children 19 42
Adults 10 24
TOTALS 35 78
Treatment by disinfection
Rooms and furniture are sprayed with a solution of Dettol
and Pine.
Bedding is steam treated with a pressure from 10-201bs. per
square inch.
Articles are either steam treated with a pressure from 5-l0lbs.
per square inch, or placed in the formalin chamber,
according to their nature.
Treatment by disinfestation
Rooms and furniture are sprayed with a proprietary solution
containing 5 percent DDT.
Bedding is steam treated with a pressure of 201bs. per square
inch.
Articles are steam treated with a pressure of l0lbs. per square
inch.
Premises treated for bed-bugs are revisited and if necessary
retreated the following summer.
London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1953
Section 43 of the above Act states that, on receipt of a report from
the medical officer of health or a sanitary inspector that any aged
person within their district is verminous or is for any other reason in