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-37-
TREATMENT AND BATHING CENTRE
(Superintendent - Mr. T. Lloyd, T. D. )
In the past decade the number of persons requiring treatment at
the Council's Centre, for verminous conditions of the head and body,
has shown a most decided decrease. The reduction in numbers is most
marked in regard to children of school age. During the year 1952, a
total of 2,559 school children were treated at this centre for verminous
conditions of the head and body, whereas, in 1962, only 375 school
children were found to require treatment and, in every case, for head
lice only. None were found with body lice infestations.
With regard to adult persons requiring treatment for personal
verminous conditions during the same period; the decrease in numbers,
although less substantial, is nevertheless quite considerable, andwas
as follows:-
1952. Verminous treatments - Adults.
Males 959. Females 500
1962. Verminous treatments - Adults.
Males 459. Females 166
433 of the 459 adult male persons requiring treatment, (in every case
for body-lice,) were sent from common lodging houses and hostels, or
were vagrants. We have in this Borough a large number of Common Lodging
House beds that attract casual lodgers from other areas of London
and the South.
Most of the credit for this very welcome decrease in the numbers
of persons requiring treatment for personal vermin infestations, must
undoubtedly be given to the great improvement in housing conditions
in the Borough during these ten years. Overcrowding and the absence
of suitable and sufficient domestic washing facilities, are two of
the conditions most inducive to the dissemination of lice within the
family, or other groups of people living in close proximity.
The incontinent laundry service continues to build up and the
installation of additional laundry macinery and modern boilers, has
enabled us to cope with the incresed demand. Over 49,000 lbs weight
of soiled bedding and clothing was collected from incontinent aged
and sick persons during the year, laundered and returned on the day
following collection. This service is of course, quite free to those
known to have functional incontinence. The recommendations to receive
the service come mainly from the Doctors and District Nurses attending
those unfortunate enough to have this added-burden to advanced age
and sickness.
Precautionary disinfestation of furniture, bedding and soft goods
was carried out during the year for 168 families rehoused by the Borough
Council, in their new flats and houses. This treatment is carried out in
every case when a family is re-housed. It has been gratifying to note
that each year obvious infestations of families effects have been progressively
fewer in number.