View report page

35
Rag Flock and Other Filling Materials Act, 1951
Under the provisions of this Act various types of premises concerned with the upholstery trade or with
the provision of materials for the trade must be registered or licensed with the local authority. At the end
of the year 15 premises were on the register and one was licensed for storage purposes.
Verminous Persons
The cleansing of persons' baths at Lissonia and Wedlake Street dealt with 901 (721) verminous persons:
adults 605 (507) - men 512 (405), women 93 (102); children 296 (214) - boys 104 (60), girls 192 (154).
Table 26, page 72).
Scabies
The two establishments mentioned in the foregoing paragraph treated 105 (235) scabies patients; adults
64 (151) — men 60 (114), women 4 (37); children 41 (84) — boys 13 (36), girls 28 (48).
The number of persons treated for verminous conditions (referred to in the preceding section) and the
number treated for scabies at the Health Department centres showed a steady increase during the year
1966—1969. In 1970 there was a sudden decrease in numbers attending and the decrease continued into
1971, so far as adults were concerned, although there was a slight increase in attendances by children. In
1972 the decrease in the number of persons treated for scabies showed a dramatic fall of 58% in the case of
adults and 50% in respect of children. The number of persons cleansed for verminous conditions however,
increased by some 22%.
It is possible that the decrease in scabious conditions arises from improved environmental circumstances,
a greater awareness of the need for personal hygiene and perhaps advice and treatment being given by other
agencies (e.g. the patient's own doctor).
The number of verminous persons treated is the second highest since 1965 and it is of interest to note
that the higher numbers occur in children rather than in adults treated. (See Table 27, page 73).
Old People's Bathing
Under the provisions of Section 43 of the London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1953 sanitary
authorities are empowered to make arrangements for bathing old people at their request or with their
consent. During the year 356 (394) baths were given, 306 (322) to women and 50 (72) to men, under a
scheme for bathing old persons at the Lisson Grove Centre. The old people are conveyed between their
homes and the Centre by a Health Department vehicle.
The bathing of persons in their own homes is also undertaken by Bathing Attendants employed by the
Health Department as part of the home nursing service (see page 39).
Special Laundry Service
The Department continues to operate a service for laundering bed linen and clothing of the acutely ill,
incontinent or very dirty and verminous old people. In certain cases a certificate is given by the Medical
Officer of Health under the provisions of Section 84 of the Public Health Act 1936. The work has been
carried out by the staff of the Department's Laundries at 217 Lisson Grove and to a limited extent, at
Wedlake Street Baths.
During the year 12,131 (11,325) bags each containing about 10 lbs. of soiled linen were collected,
laundered and returned to the owners.
This essential service is much appreciated by the recipients; and a special word of praise is again due to
the staff at the centre for the excellent way in which they carry out this work which is not only hard
but also unpleasant.