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

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City of Westminster 1925

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]

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77
There were among Westminster children, 537 cases of head lice treated,
11 of body lice and 38 of scabies. In all these cases the clothing was
disinfected together with the bedding from their homes, amounting in all to
2,401 articles. Children from the above-mentioned boroughs treated for
similar conditions were as follows: 324 for head lice, 2 for body lice
and 16 for scabies. The number of attendances of these children for
baths at the station was 1,559.

The following table shows the total number of individuals treated at the station for verminous conditions:— Table X.

1925.Head lice.Body lice.Scabies.Total.
Children8611356930
Adults*117109.136
97823651,066

* The large number of adult cases of head lice is due in a great measure to the
cleansing necessary before admission to the hostel in Grosvener Road organised by the
St. Martin's Church authorities.

All the lice cases were dealt with at the station, but 4 of the scabies cases were treated at home. Table XI.

1921.1922.1923.1924.1925.
Rooms1,5021,1797429841,081
Articles disinfected31,65428,70921,93323,38222,833
Articles washed6,7667,3558,6794,8625,142
Articles destroyed38105173198265
Books disinfected *212173215425454
Vehicles „ Offices and business premises18338
21

* School books, 413; library books, 30; private books, 11.
The motor van during 1925 ran 3,663 miles and carried 3,361 cwt. of
goods, the highest amount in any one day being 36 cwt. The petrol con.
sumption was 406 gallons, equal to 9.0 miles per gallon.
Mortuaries.
The number of bodies removed to the Council's mortuaries under
order of the Coroner, or to await burial, was 332—in one instance on
account of infectious disease.