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
Southwark 1944
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Southwark, Borough of]
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operation, which involved the appointment of a number of temporary staff
and the careful planning of infested areas.
VERMINOUS PERSONS.
During the year there was a total attendance of 13,766 persona for
bathing and treatment. Of this number 5,915 treatments were given to
school-children in accordance with the Council's Agreement with the
London County Council.
7,851 treatments were given to persons sent by various local
practitioners, hospitals, and common lodging houses.
The following amount of work was undertaken:- Scabies
| Men | Women | Children | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Quarter | 541 | 1681 | 988 | 3210 |
| 2nd Quarter | 290 | 1161 | 761 | 2212 |
| 3rd Quarter | 273 | 905 | 593 | 1771 |
| 4th Quarter | 438 | 1373 | 874 | 2685 |
| Total | 1542 | 5120 | 3216 | 9878 |
Cleansing of Verminous Persons
| Men | Women | Children | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Quarter | 81 | 59 | 734 | 874 |
| 2nd Quarter | 109 | 44 | 539 | 692 |
| 3rd Quarter | 138 | 524 | 791 | 1453 |
| 4th Quarter | 139 | 95 | 635 | 869 |
| Total | 467 | 722 | 2699 | 3888 |
The following table shows the classification of adults whose treatments are included above
| Scabies | Vermin | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cases | Treatments | Cases | Treatments | |
| Southwark residents | 1544 | 3097 | 586 | 607 |
| Lambeth residents | 1799 | 3565 | 127 | 138 |
| Government Evacuation | ||||
| Scheme | 444 cases received preventive treatment. | |||
VERMINOUS PREMISES.
The Council's disinfecting staff treated the following premises in the Borough, consequent upon verminous conditions being found:-
| 1st Q. | 2nd Q. | 3rd Q. | 4th Q. | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of rooms treated | 148 | 455 | 330 | 95 | 1028. |
| Premises found to be infested | 515 | (1028 rooms) | |||
| Premises disinfested | 515 | (1028 rooms) | |||
| L.C.C. dwellings found infested | 4 | (7 rooms) | |||
| L.C.C. dwellings disinfested | 4 | (7 rooms) | |||
| Borough Council dwellings found infested | 2 | (5 rooms) | |||
| Borough Council dwellings disinfested | 2 | (5 rooms) | |||
Apart from a peculiar prevalence of fleas during the summer months
the year was not marked as one when insect infestation was abnormally
heavy.
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