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Mass Radiography.
Arrangements were made for one of the Mass Radiography units of the Regional
Hospital Board to operate in Woolwich during 1950. Following a visit to the Woolwich
Arsenal from the 12th October to 6th November (for Arsenal personnel only),
the apparatus was set up at the Old Town Hall and for seven weeks from the 21st
November onwards a total of 9,787 persons was examined. Invitations to attend
for X-ray had been extended to members of business houses in the Borough and
also to the Council's staff.

Whilst the main object of this examination was, of course, the early detection
of tuberculosis, certain other abnormalities may be detected.
A short film on the work of the X-ray unit was shown at 14 of the informa
film programmes given by the Health Department just before and during the visit
of the unit.
Prevention of Tuberculosis.
The Council has duties under the Public Health (Tuberculosis) Regulations,
1930, concerned with measures for the prevention of tuberculosis, investigations of
sources of infection, supervision of the environment of tuberculous persons, together
with the keeping of the Notifications Register of all cases in the Borough. The
administration of the dispensaries at Eltham and Woolwich is now carried out
by the Regional Hospital Board.
Care Committee.
The voluntary Care Committee on which the Borough Council is represented
continued to exercise its function of using the funds at its disposal for the purpose
of providing assistance to patients and their relatives in emergencies not covered
by other agencies.
Disinfection and Disinfestation.
The Council's Disinfecting Station is situated at White Hart Road, Plumstead,
where there are installed two Washington-Lyon steam disinfectors, one steam
washing machine and a room for disinfecting articles which cannot be subjected to
heat. Infected articles of bedding, clothing, etc. and articles infested with bugs,
are disinfected at the station, but personal clothing of persons treated at the two
Cleansing Stations is disinfected at these two stations.
During 1950, the Department carried out disinfection of 474 rooms in 352
houses after cases of infectious disease, and of these, 115 premises had been occupied
by tuberculous persons. Some 2,944 inspections regarding verminous conditions
were made and 1,052 rooms were disinfested for vermin. Forty-nine vanloads
of furniture were fumigated during the year.
The number of articles disinfected at the Disinfecting Station was 32,842,
details of the type and number of articles disinfected there being as follows:—
Beds 214 Books 214
Palliasses 875 Bags 103
Pillows 1,632 Wearing Apparel 24,306
Bolsters 197 Boots 12
Quilts 515 Slippers 10
Sheets 637 Toys 114
Blankets 1,408 Cushions 165
Curtains 14 Sundries 2,407
Carpets 3
Rugs 17
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