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77
Disinfestation.
Verminous conditions, whether in the home, of wearing apparel or
personal in character, come within the purview of the Council's activities.
So far as the structure of the house is affected, the procedure
followed is in accordance with the provisions of the Public Health
(London) Act, viz., cleansing by the owner, disinfection by the officers
of the Borough Council, supplemented by the loan to the occupiers of
a hand-spraying machine for the periodical application of an insecticide
fluid. Clothing and bedding are disinfected by steam. For personal
disinfestation, the Borough Council maintains a Cleansing Station and
provides the services of a Cleansing Attendant. This station, by
arrangement with the London County Council, is primarily used for
school children. Male adults are occasionally provided with a cleansing
bath in a separate structure. During the year, 48 adults and 1,646
children were cleansed. In addition, 934 treatments were given to
children suffering from scabies. By special arrangement with the
Camberwell Borough Council, facilities are available for adult females
to be bathed at the Camberwell Cleansing Station at a cost of 5s.
per case. One case was so dealt with in 1936.
Bathing Station.
The Public Health Committee reviewed during the year the
existing facilities for the treatment of children suffering from verminous
conditions, including scabies. Originally, ordinary verminous conditions
were treated in one of the flats of the temporary shelter situated
in the Council's premises at Watson Street; a second flat was utilised
subsequently in order, particularly, that children suffering from scabies
might receive treatment locally.
These arrangements were regarded as a temporary expedient, as
the Committee felt that the existing building was not only structurally
unsuitable for the purpose, but might at any time be required for its
original purpose, viz., the reception of persons displaced from their
homes during disinfection of same. Accordingly, consideration was
given to the erection of a Bathing Station upon vacant land in the
Council's possession at the rear of the Coroner's Court. After