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
Bethnal Green 1958
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Bethnal Green Borough]
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Disinfection and Disinfestation
Disinfection and Disinfestation The following is a summary of the routine work carried out by the disinfecting staff during the year:-
| No. of rooms disinfested | 552 |
| Articles of clothing, bedding, etc. submitted to steam disinfection | 3,423 |
| Articles disinfected by formalin | 2,188 |
| Hospital mattresses, pillows, etc.disinfected . | 4,173 |
| Number of articles destroyed by request | 2,544 |
In addition, on 379 occasions rubbish which had been dumped on
open sites, etc., was sprayed with insecticide prior to removal.
The furniture and bedding of 69 families removing to Borough
Council flats were diginfested.
Personal Cleansing Station
During the year, 27 adults and 1 child had baths for
verminous conditions at the Personal Cleansing Station,
simultaneous disinfection of clothing being carried out.
In addition, 21 adults and 16 children received treatment for
Scabies at the Station. Public Health Inspectors visit and advise
in all cases of Scabies and in those cases where verminous
conditions persistently recur.
During the year the mobile bathing equipment for the cleansing,
by consent, of aged persons in their own homes where the persons
concerned are so enfeebled as not to be able to attend at the
Personal Cleansing Station was used on thirty occasions.
Laundry Service for Incontlnent Persons.
During the year, the Council approved the provision of
a laundry service for incontinent persons in accordance with
the provisions of Section 122 of the Public Health (London)
Act, 1936. An arrangement was made with the Hackney Borough
Council for the laundering to be carried out at the Hackney
Disinfection Station at a charge per garment.