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59
and seventy-one persons, including laundry hands, milk vendors,
dressmakers, &c., whose occupation rendered it desirable, attended
for personal disinfection at the shelter on account of exposure to
infectious disease.
Cleansing: of Persons Act, 1897.
The use of the Personal Cleansing Station (established by
the Council under the provisions of the Cleansing of Persons Act,
1897), was largely availed of during 1910 by persons requiring
the facilities therein provided, and 1,924 persons who were infested
with vermin attended the station and were cleansed and had their
clothing disinfected at the Disinfecting Station adjoining.
Of the total number cleansed, 1,554 were men, 29 women and
341 children, the latter coming mainly from the public elementary
schools. In connection with the cleansing of these 1,924 persons,
clothing belonging to them weighing nearly seven tons was disinfected
in the steam disinfecting machines.
The arrangements for the cleansing at the Borough Council's
Personal Cleansing Station, of verminous school children, and
which the London County Council are under statutory obligation to
carry out (vide Secs. 36 and 37 of the London County Council
(General Powers), Act, 1907), are not yet completed. A letter was
received from the education authority, dated 4th May, 1910,
agreeing provisionally upon the general outlines of a scheme for the
treatment of verminous children throughout London as follows:—
1. That the Cleansing Stations provided by the various
politan Borough Councils should as far as possible be
utilised by agreement with the Borough Councils.
2. That the treatment of children should be entirely distinct
from any establishment used for the isolation of suspected
cases of infectious disease contacts.
3. That the exclusive use of the baths for the cleansing of
children should be allowed on certain days.
4. That the Cleansing Station should be in a convenient position
and that the children should be efficiently supervised with
female attendants for the treatment of girls.
5. That a uniform payment to the Borough Councils at the rate
of 2 shillings per child, irrespective of the number of baths
required before a child can be regarded as cleansed, should
be arranged throughout London.
6. That this scheme should be subject to the Borough Councils
undertaking, where necessary, to deal with the homes of
the children cleansed.