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Vermin Control
Persons
The conditions of domestic life created by the Second World War
was responsible for a large increase in verminous conditions, particularly
in scabies infestation. Since then there has been a rapid improvement
in this respect and instances of verminous infestation are becoming
yearly less frequent. To deal with the suddenly aggravated problem
during the war, the Council established a Cleasing Station in adapted
premises at Rochester Road, equipped with the usual baths and a steam
disinfector, and with the necessary staff to deal with the hundreds of
individuals who were treated there annually. These facilities are maintained,
but it is gratifying to record that they are now used only
occasionally. The modern parasiticides have greatly improved the
domestic control of pediculosis and their use by the School Health
Service has done a great deal in reducing the number of persons requiring
the services of the Cleansing Station.
The following persons were dealt with at the Cleansing Station
during the year:
Families Persons Attendances
For scabies 3 5 12
For pendiculosis 16 12
Schoolchildren included in these totals were:
For scabies 0 For pediculosis 5
Premises
The number of houses treated for bugs and fleas, vermin which is
essentially a reflection of the absence of domestic cleanliness, fell to
the record low figure of 5, compared with 8 in 1953 and more than 10 in
each of the other post war years. This trend is comparable as is to be
expected with the steady decline in the evidence of personal infestation