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
Merton and Morden 1940
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Merton & Morden]
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CLEANSING STATIONS.
The Cleansing Station which was included in the architectural
design of the Council's Slipper Baths was opened for
the treatment of cases in September, 1941.
The arrangement was that the Attendant and his wife
would carry out the treatment of cases attending the Centre.
The original estimate of the attendances for treatment based
on peace-time experience was soon so grossly exceeded by the
almost epidemic incidence of Scabies that arrangements were
made for Nursing Auxiliaries from the First Aid Post to give
assistance. This arrangement has worked well.
The First Aid Post Trained Nurse has taken over the
running of the Centre and undertaken the family follow up
of cases attending in order to discover other cases in the family
requiring treatment.
This side of the work, as is well known, is perhaps the
most important feature of the campaign against Scabies; and
the follow up is best carried out by the Nurse in daily contact
with the disease and thus experienced in its recognition.
The following table shows the scope of treatment carried
| out. | ||
|---|---|---|
| Number of cases of Scabies treated | 435 | 371 |
| Cases of Scabies with concurrent verminous head | 64 | 35 |
| Cases of Scabies with Secondary Septic Skin condition | 48 | 10 |
| Total number of attendances at the Centre | 2,049 | 1,586 |
| Number of follow up visits to the home | 158 | 19 |
A two application Benzyl Benzoate treatment at the one
visit with a further visit after a week was instituted in
September, 1942. It has proved very successful and is popular
especially with adult patients as it reduces the period of
absence from work and also avoids the risk of publishing the
reason for their absence from work, as most sick pay regulations
allow for brief absence without requiring a medical
certificate to explain the cause. This is a point worth noting.
In spite of repeated assurance that Scabies is not a disease
associated with personal uncleanliness adult patients generally
prefer to keep the fact as secret as possible.
The Lethane Oil treatment has been used with considerable
success in the treatment of verminous heads.
There have been no cases of infection by the body louse.
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