View report page

5
INFESTATION BY HEAD LICE. Special attention and advice is
given by the Health Visitors at the Welfare Centre and when
visiting homes. Suitable combs are available when necessary.
DESTRUCTION OF RATS AND LICE. A fall-time Rodent Officer is
employed by the Borough Council. The following is a summary of
his work during the year Poisoning campaigns were carried
out in 42 business premises and in 190 private dwellings for
rats. In addition, similar campaigns were carried out in 18
business premises and 64 private dwellings for mice. Advice
was given to owners or occupiers undertaking their own campaigns
in 73 instances. Preliminary inspections totalled 816. Laying
Pre-baits 1316. Laying Poison baits 287. Visits for the
purpose of clearing all unconsumed bait 287. Laying of postbaits
287. Smoke testing of drains 37. The number of points —
baited was 6,043.
INSPECTION AND SUPERVISION OF FOOD.
The Inspectors carried out routine inspections of premises
where food is prepared, stored or sold. Unsound food surrendered
was either destroyed or disposed of for purpose other than human
consumption. In one instance legal action under Section 13 of
the Food and Drugs Act, 1938, was taken in regard to unsatisfactory
conditions existing at a retailer's premises.
FOOD AND DRUGS ACT. 400 samples were submitted to the Public
Analyst for analysis during the year. Of these, 194 were taken
as "formal" and 206 as "informal". Twenty-five samples were
reported to be adulterated. In one instance, legal proceedings
were taken against a manufacturing firm, whilst warning letters
were sent, either by the Borough Council or the Ministry of Food,
to all other Vendors concerned. All other samples were returned
as genuine.
INFECTIOUS AND OTHER DISEASES.
NOTIFICATIONS. The total (corrected) number of notifications
received during the year (754) was made up as follows 2:-
Diphtheria 8 Malaria 1
Erysipelas 9 Acute Influenzal Pneumonia 1
Scarlet fever 48 Acute Primary Pneumonia 11
Enteric fever 1 Measles 342
Puerperal fever 2 Whelping Cough 38
Puerperal Pyrexia 3 Scabies 156
Gerebro-spinal fever 2 Ophthalmia Neonatorum 3
Poliomyelitis 1 Pulmonary Tuberculosis 69
Dysentery 53 Non-Pulmonary Tuberculosis 6
DIPHTHERIA. There was one death, a male, 29 years of age.
DIPHTHERIA IMI1UNIBATI0N CLINIC. 386 new cases attended.
SMALLPOX AND VACCINATION. No case of smallpox was notified.
Of the 162 births~registered in Chelsea during 1944, 89 were
successfully vaccinated - a percentage of 54.9 (Figures for 1945
are not yet available).
TUBERCULOSIS. 69 new cases of pulmonary and 6 cases of nonpulmonary
tuberculosis were notified. In addition, 57 new cases
came to the knowledge of the Medical Officer of Health from other
sources. The total number was therefore 132 (Pulmonary - Males
57) Females 655 Non-pulmonary - Males 3, Females 7). The total