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7
A certain section of the adult male population now wear hair
fashions that cost a pound or more to produce and are designed to
remain unaltered in appearance for one or more weeks. Much
combing is contraindicated as the set becomes disarranged, and a
minimum is performed after the night's rest only when necessary.
If, therefore, the owner of such a creation becomes infected by
the head louse he can be sure of a rapid multiplication of the
parasite, resulting in a heavy infestation. As stated previously,
this has now happened in two men in 1958 in Hammersmith.
It is obvious that the demolition of some of the old buildings
is ridding the Borough of sources of bed bug spread. The higher
standard of living accommodation is valued by the fortunate and
jealously coveted by others. Many more of the requests for disinfestation
are received from persons occupying only one or two
rooms, than from all other tenants.
The time saved by lessening work in the above matters over
the past two years has been overspent on the fast growing laundry
service. One might say, therefore, that the work of the Cleansing
Station is passing from the eradication of existing evil to help in
the prevention of or alleviation of suffering.
There was an increase of 7 in the number of treatments of
verminous persons compared with 1957, this despite the fact that
there was a decrease of 55 in the number of head treatments for
schoolgirls.
During the year only 23 mothers of infested schoolchildren
consented to have treatment. This number is far too low when
related to the number of families needing attention. The schoolchildren
treated were members of 140 different families.
At the request of mcdical departments of industrial establishments,
28 verminous heads were treated: some of these had been
previously treated with their children, but had now found employment.
Sixty-two children under five years of age were shampooed,
which although not a large total, covers many more families than
last year. Some of these children are brought by brothers and
sisters only a few years older.
While there has been considerable reduction in numbers
amongst schoolchildren, the numbers of adult and pre-school age
attenders seems to remain fairly constant.
Five families were responsible for 137 head cleansings of
schoolchildren, i.e., 27% and two of the families requested 12
cleansings for under fives. One girl of eight years visited on no
less than 15 occasions.
A blind person of no fixed abode requested a bath. He said
he asked for no help from anyone and wished to live as he did.
Seven of the persons of no fixed abode had attended at the Baths
before.
On two occasions it was necessary to convey persons to and
from the Baths for treatment. In the first instance it was a very
dirty old man of 80, not verminous. He was bathed and supplied