London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Merton and Morden 1943
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Merton & Morden]
This page requires JavaScript
this is a good thing as if infested heads could so easily be
cleaned up this unnecessary and unpleasant condition might
lose some of its horrors, and the condition cease to be confined
generally to the lazy and the dirty.
The following table shows the scope of treatment carried
out:—
| Number of cases of Scabies treated | 694 |
| Cases of Scabies with concurrent verminous head | 37 |
| Cases of Scabies with Secondary Septic Skin condition | 17 |
| Number of cases of Verminous heads only | 17 |
| Total number of attendances at the Centre | 3,108 |
| Number of follow up visits to the home | 58 |
Of the 17 children with verminous heads treated in the
Cleansing Station, 8 occurred in children under five.
The incidence of infestation in the Day Nurseries during the year was :—
| Manor House. | High Path. | Middleton Ed. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vermin and Nits | 5 | 4 | 20 |
| Nits only | 2 | 2 | 12 |
The result of observations by the Health Visitors at the
Clinics during the year showed only one child under five with
a verminous head.
58