View report page

Every effort is made by inspectors to carry out their work through informal action,
and to seek co-operation by interview and letter; in certain cases recourse to statutory
proceedings is unavoidable, and a summary of notices served during the year is given
below:
Public Food and
Subject of Notice. Health Act. Drugs Act.
Number of Informal Notices served 334 248
Number of Informal Notices complied with 218 264
Number of Statutory Notices served 115 —
Number of Statutory Notices complied with 108 —
6. DISINFECTION AND DISINFESTATION
The disinfection of premises and any articles therein after infectious disease is
carried out at the expense of the Council and in cases other than after infectious disease
at the cost of the individual.
The cost of the work of disinfestation to eradicate bed bugs, fleas, etc., is charged
to the individual.
By arrangement, all persons suffering from scabies or infested with lice are sent
to Hammersmith Medicinal Baths for treatment, and I am indebted to Dr. A. D. C. S.
Cameron, Medical Officer of Health and Director of Social Services of the London
Borough of Hammersmith, and Mr. F. G. Baldwin, Superintendent of the Baths, for
their valuable assistance during the year.
Although the figure still remains fairly high, the number of cases treated for scabies
during the year dropped to 27 compared with 89 in 1967 and 6 people were treated
for lice infestation.
One of the worst cases of lice infestation was that of a 58 year old man referred
to the department by a local doctor. The man lived in one room of a flat occupied
by a married couple. No sign of vermin was found in the bedding or in the room
generally, but a small green insect, suspected of being a louse, was found in the under
clothes he was wearing. He was asked to collect more specimens and on returning the
following day, the investigating officer was presented with 20-30 active lice. Arrange
ments were made for him to attend Hammersmith Baths for treatment and his room
was thoroughly disinfested.
164 premises were disinfested during the year and costs amounting to £173 12s. 8d.
were recovered.
81