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9
Medicinal Baths.
In Scotts Road, Shepherds Bush, the Health Department's
treatment baths and laundry carry on their multiple responsibilities.
Treatment is provided for scabies, impetigo, verminous conditions
and for psoriasis.
During the year, the London County Council discontinued the
use of this centre for school-children. However, cases from Brentford
and Chiswick, Ealing, Fulham, Hendon, Heston and Isleworth,
Kensington, Richmond, Southall and Uxbridge received treatment.
Barnes and Brentford and Chiswick Councils, and the London and
Middlesex County Councils used our centre for the steam sterilisation
of bedding.
On 148 occasions the West London Hospital used the services
of the Medicinal Baths for sterilisation—a total of 905 articles.
In my report for last year I wrote that "The year 1959 will
be recorded and long remembered"; I was, of course, referring to
the weather. The same can be said of 1960, but, alas, whereas
1959 was hot and dry for long periods, 1960 was cold and wet. The
level of bed bug activity is known to fluctuate with temperature
variation, and, as the last two years were so different in character a
comparison of treatments given is worthwhile.
1959
I960
Treatments
Average Mean
Temperature
Degrees Fall.
Treatments
Average Mean
Temperature
Degrees Fah.
January — 39 9 43
February 2 43 22 43
March 5 48 29 45
April 25 53 47 51
May 48 57 92 57
June 91 63 94 63
July 117 67 90 62
August 245 67 51 63
September 170 63 39 59
October 76 57 19 54
November 26 49 24 49
December 8 46 17 43
Totals 813 533
The figure of 813 for 1959 was a record and it is likely that
there was a residue which may be the reason for so much bug
activity so early in the year 1960. A constant temperature of above
65 deg. F. produces ideal conditions for bed bugs to complete a
quick life cycle. Below 55 deg. F., they are more lethargic and
feed less and therefore give less trouble.
The temperature fluctuation of a normal English summer will
to some extent retard infestation. Calls for spraying are rare when
the average temperature is below 50 deg. F., except where redecorations
are in progress.