View report page

28
disease is made compulsorily notifiable, and this measure is now
under consideration.
Pediculosis Capitus (Head Lice).—After careful consideration
it was decided that no advantage would result from the use of
lethane oil as the present procedure of manual removal of lice and
nits with the aid of a paraffin compound and soft soap does not
necessitate more than one visit to the Centre.
DISINFECTION AND DISINFESTATION.
The following is a summary of the work carried out by the
disinfection staff during the year:—
(a) after the occurrence of infectious and contagious diseases:
Number of rooms disinfected 3,879
Number of articles of bedding and clothing
disinfected or destroyed 71,261
Number of Public Library and other books
disinfected 11.025
Number of persons accommodated in the
isolation shelters —
(b) for the destruction of vermin:
Number of rooms fumigated 495
Number of beds, mattresses, etc., cleansed
or destroyed 20,457
In addition, 52 van-loads of furniture have been treated in the
cyanide gas chambers at the Disinfecting Station and 200 collections
were made of verminous and unwholesome articles for destruction.
Included among these collections were 14 full van-loads and 18 were
collections of the unwanted possessions of persons, usually aged and
infirm, who had died or been removed to hospital.
Disinfections of public air-raid shelters, wardens' posts, firewatchers'
quarters and premises occupied by Civil Defence
personnel numbered 319.
The cyanide gas chambers were in almost daily use throughout
the year and were invaluable in dealing with the bedding of the large
number of Civil Defence personnel billeted in the various depots in
the Borough. The chambers have also, on many occasions, been used
for the treatment of foodstuffs for destruction of food pests at the
instance of the Ministry of Food and the London Fumigation
Company, amounting in the past two years to approximately 250
tons of food including cereals such as rice and beans, and chocolate,
dried fruits, etc.