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7
The Public Health Inspectors visited the kitchens of both Hospitals
and were satisfactory. Food handlers dealing with food in
Contractors' premises were found not to be carriers.
Dysentery.
148 cases of Dysentery occurred in the year but there were no
deaths.
Medicinal Baths.
The Medicinal Baths in Scott's Road, Shepherds Bush, provide
for the treatment of scabies, impetigo and certain verminous conditions,
and occasionally psoriasis.
The London 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.
Infected children, 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 for preventing
recurrence.
During the year cases from Acton, Barnes, Brentford and
Chiswick, Ealing, Fulham, Heston and Isleworth, Southall and
Staines received treatment, and Barnes, Brentford and Chiswick,
Ealing, Heston and Isleworth Councils, and the London County
Council used our centre for steam sterilisation of bedding.
On 89 occasions the West London Hospital used the services of
the Medicinal Baths for sterilisation purposes.
The year 1959 will be recorded and long remembered for a
glorious summer, both hot and dry for many weeks. One result of
this was that bed bugs were very much in evidence and more premises
and rooms were disinfested than in any other year.
The number of rooms sprayed for verminous conditions increased
for the third year in succession, and the highest figure ever
for disinfestation was recorded. Infestations during this summer
were heavier in some homes than the slight traces which have
become to be expected as evidence of vermin existence. Not one
case, however, was as bad as the many infestations seen in the year
immediately following the last War. There has, however, been a
continuous rise in infestations during the last three years, but this
may possibly be due to more complaints being made.
86% of spraying took place between June and October with
August claiming 31% of the yearly total.
There were more complaints than in previous years regarding
the suspected purchase of bug infested second-hand furniture.