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The mobile team Which is available for dealing with homes requiring
dislnfestation was again actively engaged, and during the year 109
premises were sprayed for bed bugs and fleas (259) roans and 11 premises
for infectious disease (26 rooms).
A most Interesting point was the decrease In the number of fleas
reported by tenants, only four rooms being treated. Fleas are heatloving
insects and the cold summer may be responsible for their comparative
absence.
The sale of second-hand furniture Infected with bed-bugs Is only
too frequent, and many new flats are originally infested in this way.
Tenants newly-housed only too often have to regret the purchase of old
furniture Which has not been bug-proofed before sale.
Nowadays many people send articles of clothing and materials to
relatives living abroad, and in this connection some Eastern European
countries require that the article shall be disinfected before being
despatched and a Certificate to that effect produced. During the year
46 such Certificates relating to 518 articles were Issued and a nominal
charge of 2.6d was made for each certificate.
Where it is necessary, mattresses are supplied by the proprietors
of Olympla for people who have to sleep on the premises during
certain exhibitions, particular those with cattle at the DairyShow
and in this connection 226 were dealt with after this particular show.
The steam steriliser was also used to dry mattresses etc. of
families vtfio were unfortunate enough to suffer damage from rain as a
result of defective roofs in the early part of the year.
Five cases of Impetigo were encountered during the year, In one
case, a female of 24, it was most severe. All cases were secondary
infections following ped. capitis.
In the immediate pre-war period the average number of cases was
about 300 a year.
Health Laundry
Four yeaishave now elapsed since the introduction of the Health
Laundry Scheme.
The continuing demand for the service from all In touch with the
aged proves Its place in the alleviation of distress and suffering
of those ill, and of preventing additional Illness because of their
immobility.
Requests are received from doctors, nurses, welfare associations,
relatives and others and are assessed largely on the health position
of the applicant.
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