London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
London County Council 1963
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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To about ten per cent. of the number found verminous (occasions) at comprehensive
and selective surveys the issue of advice alone was necessary; to about 75 per cent. a tube
of Lorexane No. 3 shampoo was given. For the remaining 15 per cent. of the number
found verminous (occasions) voluntary attendance at bathing centres was sought and on
eight occasions statutory notices were issued to enforce attendance. (93 such notices were
issued in 1962).
| 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advice notice only issued | N/A | 2,381 | 575 | 405 | 483 |
| Advice notice with Lorexane No. 3 | N/A | 6,552 | 4,488 | 4,087 | 3,709 |
| Number of pupils referred for further action | N/A | N/A | 1,204 | 996 | 766 |
| Pupils attending bathing centre voluntary | 4,552 | 1,628 | 735 | 758 | 617 |
| Statutory cleansing notices issued | 764 | 320 | 62 | 93 | 8 |
| Pupils cleansed after service of statutory notice: | |||||
| Voluntarily | 259 | 84 | 18 | 12 | 3 |
| Compulsorily | 458 | 197 | 37 | 81 | 5 |
| Total | 717 | 281 | 55 | 93 | 8 |
Bathing centres—The number of cases of infestation with vermin treated at bathing
centres showed a reduction of nine per cent. compared with 1962 and the number of attendances
for treatment a reduction of seven per cent. There can be little doubt that these
reductions are directly attributable to the use of Lorexane.
1959 19601961 1962 1963
Scabies
Pupils treated 660 637 514 458 451
Vermin
Pupils treated 7,025 3,441 2,265 1,983 1,813
Treatments needed 11,799 4,345 2,764 2,422 2,242
Impetigo
Pupils treated 1,187 1,020 1,033 903 699
Ringworm
New cases 20 10 7 6 5
Employment of schoolchildren
Medical examinations were carried out divisionally of 3,910 children with a view to the
issue of employment certificates and 419 medical examinations were carried out at the
County Hall in respect of employment under licence in public entertainments.
Choice of employment
The percentage of school leavers advised against particular forms of employment was
13.2 per cent. of those inspected, only 0.1 per cent. less than that for 1962. For boys the
figure rose from 14.6 per cent. in 1962 to 15.2 per cent. but for girls it fell from 11.9 per
cent, to 11.3 per cent. As in recent years, normally acute vision headed the list of contraindications
followed by colour vision (boys only) and heavy manual work:
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