Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, London, Borough of]
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The school children included in the first of the foregoing two tables have
been brought to the cleansing station from the Public Elementary Schools,
by officials of the London County Council as the Education Authority under
the powers conferred upon them by their General Powers Act, 1904, Sec. 36,
and the Children's Act, 1908, Sec. 122. A sum of two shillings for one month's
course of cleansings for every child is paid by the County Council to the
Borough Council, according to an agreement between the two Authorities.
During the year the children for whom a month's treatment was paid for by
the London County Council numbered 1,927.
The health-visitor, Miss Smith, has devoted part of her time to visiting the
homes of these verminous children, and helping the families to rid themselves
of these verminous conditions. For this purpose the bedding and bed fellows
in the household have been cleansed in many instances. The visits paid for
this purpose have numbered 103, but the female staff is quite inadequate to
deal with this problem effectively.
In March 1915, an arrangement was made with the Finsbury Borough
Council whereby verminous persons resident in Finsbury may be cleansed at
the St. Pancras cleansing station at a charge of one shilling per attendance to
be paid by the Finsbury Council. During 1915, 21 verminous persons (all
soldiers) from Finsbury were cleansed under this arrangement. 37 verminous
persons from common lodging bouses outside the borough were also paid for
by the London County Council at the rate of one shilling per attendance.
The following articles have been destroyed or disinfected during the year on account of verminousness :—
Destroyed. | Disinfected. | |
---|---|---|
Beds, mattresses and palliasses | 10 | 53 |
Bolsters and pillows | 4 | 101 |
Sheets, blankets, and counterpanes | 9 | 2580 |
Rugs, mats, cushions, carpets, covers, and curtains | 2 | 302 |
Wearing apparel | 46 | 1054 |
Elastic goods | — | — |
Skin rugs | — | — |
Sundries | 80 | 112 |
Total | 151 | 4202 |
These figures include 2593 blankets, 527 rugs, 32 bolsters, 4 mattresses and
886 articles of wearing apparel which were disinfected for the military
authorities, or for voluntary bodies (such as the Y.M.C.A.) who provide
accomodation for soldiers.
PUBLIC MORTUARIES AND CORONERS' COURT.
Number of bodies deposited in the General Mortuary during 1915 492
„ ,, Infectious „ „ 8
Total 500