View report page

The county council continue to use this centre for the
treatment of schoolchildren and special attention has been given
to head Infestations at the welfare centres and at the Day Nurseries.
infected schoolchildren, together with their contacts of
pre-school age, have been followed up In the home and treatment
(for all ages) has been made available at the Medicinal
Baths. Advice Is always given as to the best methods of home
treatment and of preventing recurrence.
There was little difference In the number of school children
treated for head lice, but the number of mothers attending
with their children was depresslngly low, the difficulty appears
to be that more of the mothers are now at work. Almost 50% of
the females treated were referred by business welfare and medical
departments. As In other years a few large families are responsible
for a hl^i percentage of treatments for head lice In
school children.
During the year cases from Barnes, Brentford and chlswlck,
Ealing, psltham, Fulham, Heston & Isleworth, Richmond, southall,
Staines and sunbuiy, received treatment, and Barnes, Ealing, Heston
& Isleworth Borough Councils and the London county council used
our centre for steam sterllsatlon of bedding.
On 46 occasions the vest London Hospital used the services
of the Medicinal Baths for sterilisation purposes and 23 requests
were received from the Hospital for formaldehyde disinfection.
Following the precedent of successful treatments In the past,
the Town Hall carpets and soft furnishings were sprayed as a protection
against damage by moths. In this connection Gammexane Emulsion
(I.C.I) was used.
The mobile team which is available for dealing with homes requiring
disinfestatlon was again actively engaged, and during the
year 249 premises were sprayed for bed bugs and fleas (495 rooms)
and 48 premises for Infectious disease (78 rooms).
In this connection a most interesting point was the number of
fleas reported by tenants. During the period from April to October
no less than 105 rooms were treated. The hot weather In the late
summer was responsible for Increased flea breeding. If we get another
hot sunnier In 1956 fleas are expected to provide an even
greater problem than 1955.
Following the notification of vermin Infestation or Infectious
disease, bedding and articles of clothing etc., were collected
from 57 premises and removed to the disinfecting station
for sterllsatlon, particulars of these are summarised In a table
In the statistical supplement. This is the lowest number ever
recorded.
13