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
Hackney 1949
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hackney]
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60
It will be remembered that Scabies first became compulsorily
notifiable on the 1st August, 1943, 581 cases being notified to the
department on the official notification forms from that date until
the end of the year.
During the year 1944, 1,032 notifications were received, but
since then, there has been a continued reduction in the number of
cases notified, and the figure of 128 in respect of the year under
review is the lowest recorded during the period of compulsory
notification.
This improvement is particularly satisfactory, having regard to the serious conditions of overcrowding and lack of separate domestic facilities which apply to so many families in the Borough who are having to share accommodation until suitable housing is provided for them on Council housing estates.
Scabies .
| 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cases notified | 1,032 | 1,021 | 924 | 318 | 208 | 128 |
| Cases treated at Cleansing Station | 2,825 | 2,611 | 2,059 | 934 | 498 | 247 |
| Head or Body Lice. Cases | 1,737 | 1672, | 2,231 | 2,013 | 1,642 | 1,377 |
The work done at the Council's Cleansing Station in 1949, is summarised in the following statement:—
| Scabies. | Head or body lice. | Impetigo | Hot baths. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cases. | Treatments | Cases. | Treatments | |||
| Children under 5 years | 29 | 139 | 108 | 108 | 18 | - |
| Children over 5 years | 103 | 267 | 1,153 | 1,153 | - | - |
| Adults | 115 | 316 | 116 | 119 | 6 | 3 |
| Totals | 247 | 722 | 1,377 | 1,380 | 24 | 3 |
Preventive treatment was given to 101 persons who had been
in close contact with persons suffering from Scabies.
Information was received of 4 Hackney children of school age
who were treated for Scabies at London County Council bathing
centres in adjoining boroughs.
The Council's visiting nurse called at the homes of all persons
known to be suffering from Scabies and, as far as possible, inspected
the contacts.