[Report 1956] / Medical Officer of Health, Leeds City.

  • Leeds City Council
Date:
1956
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1956] / Medical Officer of Health, Leeds City. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    76/252 (page 54)
    DISINFESTATION AND DISINFECTION BY C. W. Lamb, M.R.S.H., F.R.E.S., Disinfestation Officer. Personal Disinfestation.—Treatment for all types of verminous conditions of the human body is available at the specially designed Disinfestation Clinic at the Stanley Road Centre. This building, adapted in 1954, has at one end of it a clinic for the treatment of pediculus capitis. Three patients can be treated at the same time : an insecticidal hair lotion is first applied to the hair followed by shampooing. Whilst still wet, the capitis eggs are re¬ moved by a thorough combing and discriminate snipping of the hair, the latter is then dried under an industrial type of hair dryer and finally given a dressing of insecticidal brilliantine, which remains toxic for several days and safeguards against re-infestation from eggs that may have been overlooked during treatment. A total of 1,544 persons, mainly school children and contacts were given 1,549 treatments during the year, in close collaboration with the School Medical Service. In connection with these cases, 1,119 homes were visited, advice given and arrangements made for treatment by the two visitors, both of whom are State Registered Nurses. The other end of the building has been adapted for the treatment of pediculus corporis, phthirus pubis and scabies. Patients enter the “ infested ” or “ dirty ” side to be treated according to their con¬ dition, and leave the centre on the “ clean ” side. Corporis cases, after undressing, step under a hot shower to remove lice from the body surface, then into a hot disinfectant bath to complete the treatment. After undressing, the patient’s clothing is taken by the attendant and placed into a small Thresh gas-fired disinfestor. After steam disinfestation, the clothing is returned from the clean side of the disinfestor through a serving hatch into the bathroom. Similar treatment is given to persons infested with pubic lice, with the exception that the pubic hair is shaved thereby ensuring a complete removal of the eggs.