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
Battersea 1951
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Battersea Borough]
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49
Personal Cleansing Station.
During the year 1951 there were 1,858 children and 200 adults
cleansed and treated at the Station. Of the 1,858 children attending,
267 were suffering from scabies or itch, a contagious parasitic skin
affection. The remainder were verminous. Of these children 1,770
attended from the public elementary schools in the Borough by arrangement
with the London County Council, who have entered into a contract
with the Battersea Borough Council for the use of their Personal
Cleansing Station. The cleansing and treatment of the school children
is carried out under the supervision of officers of the London County
Council while the disinfestation of the clothing and (if necessary)
of the homes is carried out concurrently by the Borough Council's
sanitary staff.
The homes of all cases of scabies that come to the knowledge
of the Medical Officer of Health are visited by the Council's Sanitary
Inspectors.
The following table shows the numbers of persons cleansed and treated at the Personal Cleansing Station and the expenditure incurred since 1906, the year in which the cleansing of verminous persons Was begun :— Number of Baths, &c.
| Year | Adults | Children | *Expenditure | *Amount Contributed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verminous and Scabies | Verminous and Scabies | £ | £ | |
| 1906-1915 | 10,443 | 6,430 | 1,037 | 303 |
| 1916-1925. | 3,269 | 39,117 | 5,007 | 3,155 |
| 1926-1935 | 2,404 | 39,293 | 8,521 | 4,045 |
| 1936 | 265 | 4,524 | 723 | 403 |
| 1937 | 389 | 4,256 | 729 | 403 |
| 1938 | 432 | 3,808 | 820 | 402 |
| 1939 | 534 | 2,820 | 795 | 402 |
| 1940 | 778 | 3,497 | 404 | 866 |
| 1941 | 2,558 | 5,456 | 1,026 | 435 |
| 1942 | | 3,083 | 6,656 | 1,059 | 440 |
| 1943 | 2,017 | 5,223 | 1,149 | 422 |
| 1944 | 1,798 | 3,931 | 1,100 | 441 |
| 1945 | 1,885 | 3,277 | 1,179 | 454 |
| 1946 | 1,822 | 4,229 | 1,352 | 443 |
| 1947 | 986 | 4,179 | 1,402 | 424 |
| 1948 | 497 | 3,266 | 1,808 | 408 |
| 1949 | 286 | 2,773 | 1,534 | 411 |
| 1950 | 226 | 2,238 | 1,750 | 410 |
| 1951 | 200 | 1,858 | 1,992 | 406 |
Financial year ending 31st March. Other columns, calendar year.