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12
It is very pleasing to report that there has been a decrease
in the incidence of scabies and verminous conditions. The
scabies total of 197 cases is the lowest for 23 years, whilst the
verminous total of 1,194 cases is the lowest ever recorded since
the Station was opened in 1923.
The County Council continue to use this centre for the
treatment of school children, and special attention has been
given to head infestations at the Welfare Centres and at the Day
Nurseries.
Infested school children, together with their contacts of
pre-school age, have been followed up in the home, and facilities
(for all ages) have been made available at the Medicinal Baths.
Advice is always given as to the best methods of eradication and
of preventing recurrence.
The treatment and cleansing of persons from the Boroughs
of Ealing, Richmond and Southall is also undertaken at the
Disinfecting Station and Medicinal Baths. Assistance was
further afforded to five other local authorities during the year.
On 46 occasions the West London Hospital used the services
at the Medicinal Baths. Arrangements also exist between this
Council and the Borough Councils of Ealing and Barnes for the
disinfection of bedding. Early in the year 316 mattresses were
sterilised before being used for the relief of the East Coast
Flood victims.
The mobile team which is available for dealing with homes
that require treatment, was again actively engaged and during
the year 340 premises were sprayed for vermin (830 rooms) and
47 premises for infectious disease (61 rooms).
Following notification of vermin infestation or infectious
disease, bedding and articles of clothing, etc., were collected
from 197 premises and removed to the Disinfecting Station for
sterilisation, and particulars are summarised in a table in the
Statistical Supplement.
Health Laundry.
A year has now elapsed since the introduction of the health
laundry scheme.
The scheme has been much appreciated by district nurses
and home helps, as well as by the patients themselves, in whose
condition a general improvement can usually be seen as a result
of the service. In view of the precarious health of many of the
patients, this can be considered as most satisfactory. The
personal nature of the Council's assistance to these necessitous
people reminds them that their needs are not forgotten and for
this they are more than grateful.