London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Carshalton 1958
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Carshalton]
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W.C. pans renewed 10
pan joints renewed 13
seats repaired, renewed or provided 2
flushing apparatus repaired or renewed 11
Windows repaired and/or renewed 22
Disinfection
One hundred and twelve rooms and 217 library books were disinfected.
Four lots of bedding were sterilised and nine lots destroyed.
Vermin Control
Persons.
The Council have since 1944 maintained a Cleansing Station in
Rochester Road, where verminous persons and their personal clothing
can be dealt with. Used extensively during the war years particularly for
the treatment of scabies infestation, its facilities are now infrequently
needed. This is due partly to improved standards of personal hygiene
and partly to the development of modern parasiticidal preparations, which
can be used effectively in the home.
During 1958, 2 families involving 7 persons of whom 4 were schoolchildren
made 18 attendances for the treatment of scabies. Nine persons
including 7 school children in 4 families made 20 attendances for the treatment
of pediculosis infestation.
During the year, sixty-eight premises were treated for the destruction of vermin and insects pests as follows:—
| Infestation | Property Treated by C.U.D.C. | Property Treated | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C.U.D.C. Property | S.C.C. Property | L.C.C. Property | Privately Owned Property | By L.C.C. | By Owners | ||
| Bugs | 1 | — | — | 2 | — | 1 | 4 |
| Fleas | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | 3 |
| Flies | — | 8 | — | 3 | — | — | 11 |
| Maggots .. | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 |
| Mites | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 |
| Wasps | 5 | 1 | — | 42 | — | — | 48 |
| 6 | 9 | — | 52 | — | 1 | 68 | |
It will be noted that only four properties were found to be infested
with bed bugs. Less than twenty years ago, it was not unusual to deal with
up to 30 dwellings for this condition in the year, a large proportion of them
by the drastic method of HCN gas fumigation.
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