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with during the year and a total of 223 articles were removed and destroyed. Of
these articles, 61 were mattresses, 14 bedsteads, 34 sets of bedding, 48 items of
furniture and 66 other sundry items.
Six requests were received from residents for the disinfection of rooms, bedding
or furniture following the occurrence of a non-infectious disease, or the death of a
member of the family. Charges totalling £2 15s. Od. were made for this work.
A number of countries impose a condition that a Certificate of Disinfection
must accompany any parcel of clothing entering the country. During the year
several residents having relatives in Eastern Europe requested disinfection of clothing,
which was usually new, and five certificates were issued in respect of such clothing,
which had been disinfected by the Department. Charges totalling £1 5s. Od. were
made for this work.
A local firm of clothing exporters asked if the Council would disinfect large
quantities of clothing before export to Africa. Four consignments of clothing were
disinfected during the year and charges of £17 were made for this work.
Personal Cleansing.
The personal cleansing stations are situated adjacent to the Turkish Baths,
Plumstead High Street, and at Eltham Hill Health Centre, Sherard Road.
The number of persons cleansed in 1955 was 774, and the number treated for
scabies was 53.
Authentication of International Certificates of Vaccination and Inoculation.
Persons proceeding abroad are required to produce in certain countries evidence
of recent successful vaccination or inoculation. The signatures on these certificates
are not acceptable by the countries concerned unless authenticated by the Medical
Officer of Health as being the bona fide signature of a doctor practising within the
area.
During the year, 336 certificates were authenticated by me. Of these 305
were in relation to smallpox, 21 to cholera and 10 to typhoid fever.
LABORATORY FACILITIES
A large part of the Council's pathological and allied work in relation to the
diagnosis, prevention and control of infectious diseases is undertaken at the Southern
Group Laboratory at the Park Hospital, Lewisham. This service is provided by
the Public Health Laboratory Service on behalf of the Medical Research Council.
Specimens sent to this laboratory include samples of milk and ice cream, samples
of food in suspected food poisoning cases, specimens of meat from the Abattoir and
samples of swimming bath water. The following summary relates to the work
carried out by the laboratory on behalf of the Council during 1955:—
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