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20
SCABIES AND ALLIED CONDITIONS
(Treatment Centre - Disinfecting Station, Townmead Road)
The Centre which was established in January 1957, is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays
from 1.30 to 4.30 p.m. During the time of bathing the clothing is heat treated and is ready to wear
afterwards. The work of bathing men is undertaken by the existing staff under the supervision of
the Superintendent, and the bathing of women and children by a part-time female bathing attendant.
Medical practitioners are notified after treatment has been carried out.

Children of school age are referred to local L.C.C. School Treatment Centres.
AUTHENTICATION OF VACCINATION AND INOCULATION CERTIFICATES
In several parts of the world certificates of vaccination and/or inoculations are not accepted
unless they are endorsed by a medical Officer in the Government or Municipal Service of the
country of issue. The form of authentication which appears to be most readily accepted by Health
Authorities abroad is that given by Public Health Authorities, whereby practitioners signatures
are verified by the Medical Officer of Health. The Minister of Health therefore has asked Local
Authorities to make arrangements under which any person who desires to have a certificate of
vaccination or inoculation for the purpose of travel abroad may have it stamped accordingly at the
office of the Health Department.
The purpose of the authentication is to provide proof to those Health Authorities abroad who
desire it that the signature of the person issuing the certificate is that of a registered medical
practitioner. Authenticators are not required to certify that the vaccination or inoculation has
been properly carried out or, indeed, that it has been carried out at all; the responsibility for
issuing the certificate remains with the doctor signing it.
This does not imply any suggestion that a certificate of vaccination or inoculation issued
by a registered Medical Practitioner requires any official supervision or control in order to be of
adequate medical value. Authentication is not a requirement of Her Majesty's Government but the
proposal is designed as a remedy for difficulties which have in practice been met by persons from
this country travelling abroad.
During the year a total of 2,855 certificates of vaccination and/or inoculation were authenticated.