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22
SECTION B.
GENERAL PROVISION OF HEALTH SERVICES
FOR THE AREA.
DISINFECTION
In the mid 1930s when the common infections, such as diphtheria
and scarlet fever were prevalent and of a severe type, medical
opinion insisted on careful disinfection of rooms and bedding, following
the removal of the sufferers to Isolation Hospitals. Thus in
1936, no fewer than 1,054 rooms and other articles were sprayed,
and 1,474 articles were steam disinfected. 25 years later the
respective totals were 43 and 290.
The methods of disinfection however, have not changed. Rooms
are still sprayed with a formalin solution and articles such as Public
Library books are treated in a formalin chamber. Blankets,
pillows and the like, are subject to steam under pressure at the
Disinfecting Station at the Main Road, Sidcup Depot. It is no
longer possible to subject the majority of mattresses to this process,
as the modern springing will not stand such treatment.
In case of such diseases as Smallpox, it would still be necessary
to subject premises and articles to the most vigorous of treatment.
Details of work carried out in 1961 are given below
DISINFECTIONS.
Premises visited 154
Rooms disinfected 7
Articles disinfected 326
Steam
Sprayed Disinfected Destroyed
Rooms 7 — —
Mattresses — 2 5
Pillows — 278 4
Bedclothes, batches of — 8 —
Clothing, batches of — 2 —
Library books 36 —
PUBLIC CONVENIENCES.
Public Conveniences provided in the district fall into two
groups.
Those separate from Parks are cleaned and maintained by staff
attached to the Public Health Department. They are:—
Male and Female Sections: —
Westwood Lane, Blackfen.
St. Johns Road, Sidcup.
Queens Head P.H., Chislehurst.
Adj. Tigers Head P.H., Chislehurst.
Cotmandene Crescent, St. Paul's Cray.
Dorset Road, Mottingham.