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 1966
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lewisham Borough]
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35
Personal Hygiene
The appended table relates to surveys undertaken and also indicates action taken
with verminous cases found as a result of the surveys:
Table 17
| LEWISHAM | I.L.E.A. | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Comprehensive Surveys (a) Number examined | 25,625 | 266,224 | |
| (b) Number (occasions) found verminous | 92 | 2,994 | |
| (c) Percentage found verminous | 0.36 | 1.12 | |
| 2. Selective Surveys (a) Number examined | 5,371 | 122,060 | |
| (b) Number (occasions) found verminous | 135 | 2,984 | |
| (c) Percentage found verminous | 2.51 | 2.44 | |
| 3. (a) Total times vermin found (1(b) + 2 (b) | 227 | 5,978 | |
| (b) Total % found verminous [3 (a) as % of 1 (a) + 2 (a)] | 0.73 | 1.54 | |
| (c) No. of individual pupils found verminous | 171 | 4,085 | |
| (d) % of individual pupils found verminous (of school roll) | 0.42 | 1.00 | |
| 4. Action taken with verminous cases (a) Advice and/or Lorexane | 136 | 5,039 | |
| (b) Further action | 91 | 939 | |
| (c) 4 (b) expressed as a percentage of 4 (a) | 66.91 | 18.63 | |
| Analysis of 4(b) cases—referrals of hardcore cases to bathing centres Voluntary attendances at bathing centres No. of pupils | 91 | 850 | |
| No. of statutory notices issued | — | 6 | |
| No. cleansed at centres following statutory notices Voluntarily | 6 | ||
| Compulsorily | — | — | |
Emphasis is placed on children being cleansed by parents at home. Other members
of the family may, in the privacy that the home affords, also use the Lorexane shampoo
hence eradicating a possible source to a child, of recurring infestation.
Dental Services
Dental health education received especial attention during this year; many talks
and instructions to children regarding proper care of teeth were given.
The following summary of the work of the school dental service has been supplied
by the Medical Adviser to the Inner London Education Authority, based on returns
supplied by the dental clinics:
Table 18
| LEWISHAM | I.L.E.A. | ||
|---|---|---|---|