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
Edmonton 1914
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Edmonton]
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Vermin.
The percentage of children with nits in the hair was 23.0. The following table will show the percentage in the two sexes and two age groups:—
| Entrants. | Leavers. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boys. | Girls. | Boys. | Girls. | |
| Head clean | 91.3 | 60.2 | 95.8 | 52.6 |
| Nits | 8.2 | 39.0 | 4.2 | 46.8 |
| Lice | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.6 | |
| Total per cent. unclean heads | 8.7 | 39.8 | 4.2 | 47.4 |
The School Nurse makes special visits to the schools to examine whole
classes of children with a view to ascertaining their condition as to cleanliness.
The children with nits are given cards to take home warning their parents of
the condition and giving advice as to how to get rid of nits and vermin.
This officer also visits the homes of scholars who are reported as verminous
or suffering from sores, skin diseases, etc., by the head teachers to the School
Medical Officer, and she obtains the assistance of her male colleagues to deal
with dirty homes and foul bedding. This systematic visiting, which began on
June 1st, 1912, when the School Nurse was transferred to the Public Health
Department, has produced good results—even although no legal action has yet
been taken against neglected parents by the Education Committee.
61eansing Station.
On October 9th, 1913, the Engineer and Medical Officer of Health visited
the Local Government Board and discussed the subject with an Architect and
Engineer, as in the previous August the Local Government Board had
intimated that the loan of £600 could not be obtained under the Public Health
Act, £1875, at least as far as regards a cleansing station. In January of this
year the Engineer reported to the Works Committee that with a view to
obtaining a loan under the Baths and Washhouses Act, fresh plans and
drawings were being prepared for a renewed application to the Board. The
Council on January 13th instructed the Clerk to apply to the Board for sanction
to a loan of £670—£500 for the cleansing station, and £170 for the disinfecting
station. In March it was reported to the Sanitary Committee that the boiler
at the old disinfecting station much needed repairs to make it usable.
Nothing further is recorded in the minutes of 1914, and our cleansing
station still remains in embryo, although as long ago as November, 1912, my
Sanitary Committee and Council decided that it would be both economical and
convenient to have a new disinfecting station, and a cleansing station in the
Town Hall yard.