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 Woolwich]
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described in the 1906 report. It is to be remembered that
there is no female attendant for the bath, the only person in
charge being the man who has the care of the general disinfecting
station. To this fact may be ascribed the small number
of females who patronise the bath.
The need of a female is also noticed for the children, who
come in large numbers. It is often very difficult to get the
mother, or other responsible female, to accompany the children,
and as it is not safe to allow children to use the bath by themselves,
they often have to be refused admission.
The following directions for using the bath are posted in the
Station:—
"METROPOLITAN BOROUGH OP WOOLWICH
(Public Health Department).
Personal Cleansing-Station.
Persons whose bodies are infested with parasites should act
as follows:—
(1) Take a hot bath and wash the whole body thoroughly
with soap. Meanwhile, the clothes will be disinfected,
and a small box of ointment provided.
(2) After drying, smear the ointment in the armpits and
the other hairy parts of the body.
(3) Repeat this process three times on alternate days.
(4) The bed-clothes should be disinfected. The attendant
at the cleansing-station will send for them on request
and return them the same day.
If the head is infested:—
(1) The hair should be cut short.
(2) The head should be well washed with soft soap and
hot water.