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77
Bedding and clothing are collected and steam-treated at the
Disinfecting Station. Sheets, pillow cases and hand towels are
exposed to formalin vapour in a special chamber prior to being
washed in the Council's laundry.
Books and other articles which cannot be steam disinfected
are also treated by exposure to a formalin vapour.
During the year 158 disinfections were carried out.
Disinfestation of verminous rooms: Articles in the room
requiring treatment are removed for steam disinfestation. The
room is sprayed with an insecticide containing Pybuthrin and
Lindane/D.D.T. which has a prolonged residual effect. Where
there is heavy infestation, architraves and mouldings are required
to be eased for deeper penetration of the insecticide.
In 1972, 690 premises were disinfested for vermin.
Control of insect pests: The construction in large blocks of
flats, of covered ducts for hot water, plumbing and drainage pipes
has sometimes been a cause of insect infestation. These ducts
form an ideal harbourage for insects which would be difficult to
deal with by normal hand spraying. A Microsol Mist Generator is
therefore used for the purpose and this apparatus, which has a
small motor unit, is capable of spraying a fine mist or fog of
insecticide to a distance of 50 feet, the mist settling on to the
surfaces of the duct and the piping contained therein.
Personal cleansing station
Two hundred and seventy five treatments were given during
the year at the two personal cleansing stations to persons
suffering from scabies, 114 to schoolchildren, 125 to adults and 36
to children under school age. In addition, 1,319 treatments for
verminous conditions were given, 1,013 to schoolchildren, 179 to
adults and 127 to children under school age.
These figures include the following treatments carried out
under arrangements made with the London Borough of Lambeth
relating to their residents and children attending schools in
Lambeth
Adults and
pre-school School
children children Total
Scabies 30 22 52
Vermin 18 52 70