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16
Adults 289
Children under 5 years 102
School children 99
Diagnosis of cases— 490
Scabies 258
Other conditions 232
Home Visiting.

* 5 cases were treated at home.
London (Measles and Whooping Cough) Regulations, 1938.
Home visiting of measles and whooping cough cases, under 5 years of age, was
carried out by the Home Visitors as under—
No. of Investieations.
Measles Whooping Cough No. of Ineffective Visits.
1,488 547 367
Disinfection and Disinfestation.
During the year D.D.T. (dichlor-diphenyl-trichlorethane) either in the form of
a spray or powder became the method of choice for the disinfestation of premises
from bugs and other insect vermin. The standard solution used is 3 per cent.
D.D.T. in White Kerosene. Floors, walls, ceilings and woodwork, etc. are sprayed
with this solution. Furniture and bedding may also be sprayed or alternatively
D.D.T. dusting powder may be used, consisting of 10 per cent. D.D.T. and Kaolin.
When the solution is used the Kerosene evaporates and leaves behind on the surfaces
of walls, etc. a fine deposit of D.D.T. powder which remains effective against any
further infestation for at least a month. Remarkable success has attended the
use of this preparation which has now superseded other methods of disinfestation
in this Borough. No recurrances of the original infestation have so far been
reported out of many hundreds of treatments carried out.
During the year 760 disinfections were carried out after cases of infectious or
other diseases.
In addition 386 rooms were disinfested for vermin.
At the disinfecting station 264,226 articles of bedding, etc., were treated for
infection or infestation (225,557 of these being for Clothing Contractors).
In the case of families removing to new Council properties, furniture and
premises are sprayed with D.D.T. solution before removal as a routine. The new
premises are also sprayed soon after occupation in order to ensure that both furniture
and premises remain free from infestation for at least a month.
Hydrogen Cyanide Chamber.
The Hydrogen Cyanide Chamber was infrequently used during the last few
months of the year owing to the changeover to disinfestation by D.D.T. in the
homes, mentioned above. The Chamber, however, is being reserved for the time