London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Woolwich 1917

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Woolwich]

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CLEANSING OP VERMINOUS PERSONS.
33. The station for cleansing verminous persons was opened
in November, 1906. During 1917 it was used by 2,800 persons,
compared with 430, 651, 811, 954, and 1,124, in the five preceding
years. The users were 17 adults (viz., 8 females and 9
males) and 2,783 children (viz,, 1,652 females and 1,131 males).
568 verminous rooms were disinfected. The adults
came mainly from common lodging-houses and the children from
County Council Schools.
An agreement was entered into with the London County
Council, dated August 21st. 1911, to allow the London County
Council to use the Borough Council Cleansing Station for cleansing
school children.
Owing to vermin and scabies introduced by soldiers returning
from abroad, there has been a great increase of cleansing
required for the children.
The station is now reserved for them every day except
Saturday and Sunday between 9 a.m. and 4.30 p.m., girls being
cleansed between 9 and 1, and boys in the afternoon. The Borough
Council must properly oleanse the children and their clothes to
the reasonable satisfaction of the London County Council, which
pays 1/- for each cleansing.
The Borough Council for this purpose employs a female
attendant for the five days at a cost of 5/- per day, plus war
bonus.
£136. 17. 0 was paid by the London County Council for
the school children cleansed last year.
The cleansing of children is supervised by a school nurse.
A box of stavesacre ointment is supplied to each bather,
with instructions for its use. The names and addresses of bathers
are entered in a book, and the woman inspector calls at the homes
and arranges for necessary disinfection and cleansing of verminous
bedding and rooms.
TENTS, VANS AND SHEDS.
34. During the year, 58 tents, veins, and sheds, were inspected
(53 in 1916) and cne notice served under the By-laws for this
class of dwelling. 53 were in Eltham, 4 in St. Margaret's .Ward,
and one in St. Nicholas Ward.
36