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
Woolwich 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Woolwich]
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43 such disinfections were carried out, and charges amounting to £13 5s. 6d. were
paid
In tabular form is shown below the amount of disinfection which was carried
out during the year:—
TABLE No. 61.
| Rooms disinfected after ordinary fevers | 782 |
| Rooms disinfected after tuberculosis | 260 |
| Rooms disinfected after verminous cases | 1,377 |
| Rooms disinfected for other reasons | 29 |
| Articles disinfected | 48,476 |
Disinfestation.—In accordance with the terms of an agreement with the London
County Council, disinfestation of school children is carried out at the Cleansing
Station, White Hart Road. Disinfestation of adults is carried out at times when
the children are not there.
The following Table No. 62 shows the number of persons cleansed each year
since 1933.
TABLE No. 62.
| Year. | Children. | Adults. | Grand Total. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boys. | Girls. | Total. | Males. | Females. | Total. | ||
| 1933 | 550 | 1,579 | 2,129 | 7 | 11 | 18 | 2,147 |
| 1934 | 611 | 1,715 | 2,326 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 2,333 |
| 1935 | 603 | 1,818 | 2,421 | 10 | 3 | 13 | 2,434 |
| 1936 | 632 | 1,747 | 2,379 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 2,386 |
| 1937 | 660 | 2,047 | 2,707 | 9 | 17 | 26 | 2,733 |
Scabies.—The number of cases of scabies coming to the knowledge of the
Department during the year was 144. In 1936 the corresponding figure was 100,
in 1935 it was 64 and in 1934 it was 77.
Fifty-nine of these cases occurred in Eltham and 85 in the rest of the Borough.
The incidence of the disease per thousand population is much higher, therefore,
in Eltham, and this proportion of the general increase in the Borough indicates the
necessity for the early establishment of a cleansing station in this part of the Borough.
Bed Bug Infestation.—A report on the disinfestation of bug-infested premises
and furniture and the methods adopted to prevent the infestation of new premises
will be found in Section IV.