London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Bexley 1953
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Bexley]
This page requires JavaScript
Swimming Pool.
The only swimming pool in the Borough open to the
Public is in Danson Park and is owned by the Council. The
layout includes three open-air pools, one large for adults and
two small pools for children. Showers and foot baths are
provided for the pre-cleansing of bathers. The water is kept
pure by continuous filtration and sterilisation by means of
the latest method of break-point chlorination.
Samples of water have been taken by this department
from time to time and the results of bacterioligical examinations
have been satisfactory on each occasion.
Results.
(Minimum and maximum numbers of organisms.)
| No. of organisms per c.c. capable of growth on Agar at: | B. coli presumptive | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 37° C. | 22° C. | ||
| Deep end | 0- 9 | 0- 4 | Absent |
| Shallow end | 0- 7 | 0- 9 | Absent |
Verminous Premises.
During the year a total of 29 premises found to be
infested with bed bugs were treated with satisfactory results;
14 of these were Council Houses, and, 15 other premises.
Two houses were treated for flea infestations.
Five infestations were found by the District Sanitary
Inspectors as a result of visits to applicants who had been
allocated Council Houses or were being transferred from one
house to another. Whilst these visits take up considerable
time, there is no doubt that they serve a useful purpose in
preventing the spread of infestations.
One house was treated with hydrogen cyanide.
Wasps.
The destruction of wasps nests is undertaken by the
Department and during the year 6 nests were destroyed.
32