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
Kensington 1927
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington]
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CLEANSING OF VERMINOUS PERSONS. The cleansing of verminous persons is carried out at the Medicinal Baths, Blechynden Mews, and the record of work done during the year is as follows :-
| Total Cleansings. | |
|---|---|
| Scabies- | |
| Adults | 119 |
| Schoolchildren | 133 |
| Children under five years | 13 |
| Verminous Conditions | |
| Adults | 23 |
| Schoolchildren | 3,654 |
| Children under five years | 5 |
| Other Conditions— | |
| Adults | 29 |
| Schoolchildren | 87 |
| Children under five years | 13 |
| Total | 4,076 |
The high pressure steam disinfector at the Medicinal Baths is of great value, and an
attempt is made to disinfect as much clothing and bed linen as possible during the personal
cleansings, in order to obviate, as far as possible, re-infection of persons cleansed on return
to their homes.
In addition to the disinfection of the clothing worn by persons on their visit to the Medicinal
Baths, 137 blankets and sheets, 75 articles of night clothing, and 168 other articles have been
dealt with.
Of the 3,874 school children cleansed at the Medicinal Baths in 1927 only 262 were compulsory
cases, the remainder attending voluntarily.
The steady improvement in the general cleanliness of school children is most encouraging. At
the 3,654 cleansings for verminous conditions in 1927, only 44 children were found to be infested
with lice, the remainder showing only eggs of lice on their heads or clothing.
THE KENSINGTON POOR LAW AUTHORITY.
I am indebted to the Clerk to the Guardians who has kindly provided me with the following
particulars in order that I might comply with the request made by the Minister of Health to supply
information of the work. etc.. done.
The Kensington Institution.—This Institution, which is situated in Marloes Road,
provides indoor relief for the destitute and infirm.
Number of beds available for male adults 362
Number of beds available for female adults 434
Number of adult admissions during the year
ended 31st December, 1927 1,996
(Elderly Male Casuals, chargeable to the Metropolitan
Asylums Board, were also admitted to
the Institution during the year, the total
number of these admissions amounting to
1,771).
Average daily number of adult admissions during
the year ended 31st December, 1927 5.4
Average daily number of admissions of Casuals
during the year ending 31st December, 1927 4.8
Number of beds available for children 45
Types of cases (children) admitted (a) Remand children.
(b) Children admitted with parents
(c) Children for transfer to
Schools, etc.
Number of children's admissions during the year
ended 31st December, 1927 639
Average daily number of children's admissions 1.7
Last ascertained cost per head at the Institution 3s. l.56d. per day.