London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

View report page

Lewisham 1960

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lewisham Borough]

This page requires JavaScript

20
this Council's and the London County Council's blocks of flats where
dustchutes are used. 244 dustchutes with 974 openings were sprayed.
One private block containing 9 chutes and 27 openings was also included
in this treatment The caretakers of this Council's flats were also provided
with sprayers, 22 gallons insecticide and 130 lbs powder, for use
in connection with the containers at the base of the dustchutes, particularly
after these had been cleaned out, and for the sites of the bins used
for storage of kitchen waste. In addition treatment by spraying was
carried out in 16 houses by staff from the disinfecting station following
complaints from the householders concerned. In a number of cases a
supply of insecticide containing 5 per cent DDT was also left with the
householders for use in their own sprayers.
Health Education
During the year the food inspectors during the course of their
routine inspections of food shops took the opportunities offered to put
over items of health education to the occupiers, and on occasion to the
food handlers. A large number of posters were obtained from central
agencies in connection with health education generally and more particularly
perhaps with environmental hygiene and home safety.
The quarterly Bulletin on home safety continued to be distributed
to some 500 organisations in the borough. In the course of the year
eight lectures or talks were delivered by Health Department staff, four
of these to Boy Scout groups, two to older schoolgirls, one to members
of a political organisation and one to a group of old age pensioners.
Public Mortuary and Coroner's Court
The premises are situated in Ladywell Road and comprise a court
room, witness room, coroner's office, caretaker's apartments and mortuary.

Statistics are as under:—

Table 14

MonthBodies received from InstitutionsOthersPost-mortem examinationsInquests held (Lewisham or Southwark)
Lewisham residentsOthers
January303537283
February423455215
March262935205
April313245189
May4822412915
June4621303716
July352231267
August112420154
September312439167
October312941196
November3421272812
December3035372811
TOTALS395328438285100