London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Lewisham 1957
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lewisham Borough]
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23
SECTION B — GENERAL PROVISION OF HEALTH SERVICES
Disinfection and personal cleansing
Details of the work carried out during the year are as follows :—
Disinfecting Station Table 14
| West | North | South | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disinfection | ||||
| Premises visited | 112 | 77 | 83 | |
| Rooms disinfected | 258 | 198 | 168 | 624 |
| Articles disinfected | 1348 | 1134 | 1284 | 3766 |
| Disinfestation | ||||
| Premises visited | 25 | 18 | 3 | 46 |
| Rooms disinfested | 100 | 49 | 12 | 161 |
| Articles disinfested | 35 | 1 | 13 | 49 |
| Articles treated | ||||
| Beds | 39 | 25 | 35 | 99 |
| Mattresses | 143 | 121 | 113 | 377 |
| Bolsters | 25 | 29 | 37 | 91 |
| Pillows | 237 | 214 | 200 | 651 |
| Cushions | 24 | 38 | 24 | 86 |
| Quilts | 64 | 54 | 55 | 173 |
| Blankets | 326 | 209 | 220 | 755 |
| Sheets | 97 | 96 | 74 | 267 |
| Household articles | 229 | 178 | 186 | 593 |
| Wearing apparel | 199 | 171 | 353 | 723 |
| Total articles | 1383 | 1135 | 1297 | 3815 |
| Articles received from the cleansing station | - | 1759 | - | 1759 |
| Articles received from the Coroner's court | — | 762 | — | 762 |
| Public library books treated after infection | 210 | 157 | 233 | 600 |
| Private library books treated after infection | 13 | 3 | 15 | 31 |
| Articles treated under the Public Health (London) Act s.122 | 12229 | 14498 | 14105 | 40902 |
A more detailed analysis of treatments for verminous conditions
and for scabies is shown:—
| Number attended | Number cleansed | Number of individual families | Number of persistent cases | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Children under 5 | 25 | 29 | - | - |
| School children | 168 | 246 | 96 | |
| Adults | 39 | 40 | — | |
| TOTALS | 232 | 315 | 96 |