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16
Laboratory Facilities. The bacteriological work of the Council is carried
out at the War Memorial Hospital. In addition to the number of examinations
made for the tuberculosis service, 398 specimens were examined for diagnostic purposes
in the case of diphtheria, 3 in the case of enteric fever, and 2 on account of
other diseases.
Disinfection and Disinfestation. The number of rooms disinfected after
cases of infectious disease was 1,022. Fifty of these were rooms which had been
occupied by tuberculous persons. On account of the presence of vermin, 753 rooms
were disinfested. 40,315 articles were disinfected at the Disinfecting Station.
In March the Cleansing Station at White Hart Marsh was obliterated by a bomb.
At the same time considerable damage was done to the Disinfecting Station, but
fortunately most of the plant escaped serious damage, and it was possible after a
few weeks to have the Disinfecting Station working again. Nothing could be done
to the Cleansing Station except re-building, and as a matter of policy it was decided
not to re-build on this site. It had ceased to be used as a Cleansing Station from
1940, owing to earlier damage. In the circumstances the Cleansing Station set up
at the Plumstead Turkish Baths is being continued for an indefinite period. This
building has been used since the beginning of the War as a First Aid Post and could
be used almost immediately for its new purpose.
The number of school children treated at the Cleansing Station in accordance
with the terms of the agreement with the London County Council, was 1,772;
many (454) of these children were suffering from scabies. The number of adults
cleansed was 389, and of these 271 were scabietic.
The number of cases of scabies treated at the Cleansing Station in recent years
has greatly increased. Each year, from 1941 backwards, the number of cases treated
has been as follows : 725, 99, 111, 199, 144, 100, 64. The Council had pressed for
the completion of the Eltham Hill Cleansing Station and the necessary sanctions
were received during the summer. Towards the end of the year, proposals for
extended facilities for the treatment and control of scabies were being considered.