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17
TREATMENT AND BATHING CENTRE
(Superintendent - Mr. T. LIoyd T.D.)
The total treatments of individuals for vermin infestations during
1958 were only slightly less in number than in the previous year. The
more common kind of infestation dealt with is that of the head louse
and in the case of school children of both sexes, infestations are
almost exclusively of this type. This is also the case with most adult
females requiring treatment.
With regard to adult male persons, there were no cases of infestation
with head lice. The types of vermin infestations dealt with being
body and pubic lice. The majority of male persons attending for treatment
are sent from the various lodging houses and hostels situated in
the Borough area.
The number of individuals requiring treatment for scabies was below
the number treated during 1957. When a case of scabies is notified in a
family, efforts are made to induce the whole of that family in immediate
contact to attend for treatment on the same day.
Since the laundry service, commenced in June last year, has been
in operation, 77 individuals in all have received the service. Of this
number some have, unfortunately, since died and others are in and out of
hospital, but an average number of 25 persons receiving the service
each week is maintained. In many cases the incontinent laundry is
collected and delivered 3 times a week. By arrangement between the two
authorities, incontinent laundry from the Lambeth Borough area is now
laundered at our centre.
There was a considerable increase this year in requests for assistance
in dealing with infestations of insect pests in domestic premises.
The majority of the calls were in regard to bed-bug infestations, but £
number of beetle, cockroach, flea, fly and other infestations also
received attention. A major and deep seated infestation of cockroaches
was dealt with in some old institutional buildings situated within the
Borough. When cockroaches become established in such places where there
is central heating, they are difficult to eradicate entirely and complete
disinfestation was only achieved with considerable effort and the
application of suitable insecticides in some quantity.
Reported infestations of Wharf borer beetles, (Nacerda melanura)
a wood boring beetle, in buildings with solid floors throughout, at
first caused some concern. However, on inspection, it was found that in
each case the vertical plumbing pipes had, in accordance with modern
design, been constructed to have internal connections with the horizontal
drains. The wood beetles had apparently travelled along the lines of
pipe from some sub-soil source, and had thereby gained entry to the
interior of the buildings.