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54
REFUSE REMOVAL FROM MEWS.
In view of the unsatisfactory arrangements made for the storage of house refuse, trade
refuse and manure in certain mewsways in North Kensington, which are not used exclusively for any
one purpose, but which contain a number of dwellings, stables and costermongers' stores, the
Council have installed in 21 mewsways a number of common dustbins, somewhat similar to the
street sandbins, each of which serves eight or nine mews dwellings.
This arrangement effects a great sanitary improvement. The owners contribute towards the
cost of the bins, which have been made specially for the purpose.
DRAINAGE WORK.
Drainage work in connection with new buildings is carried out under the supervision of the
Borough Engineer, who also supervises the construction of drains on existing premises where the
work is undertaken by the owner on his own initiative. The reconstruction of drains found to be
defective by the Sanitary Inspectors is carried out under their supervision, plans of any proposed
alteration being submitted in the first instance to the Borough Engineer and then handed on to
the Public Health Department. During the year 48 house drains have been reconstructed under
notices served by the Sanitary Inspectors.
PUBLIC CONVENIENCES.
The Council provide six public lavatories containing water-closets; two are for men only,
and in four accommodation is provided for both sexes. In addition there are 12 urinals for men
under the charge of the Council. In the women's lavatories there is free accommodation for
those who are unable to pay. There are also conveniences for women at eleven railway stations in
the Borough. The public-house urinals entered from the street and available to the public
number 75. The public conveniences in the Borough have been regularly inspected during the
year, those for women in stations and elsewhere having been kept under observation by the
Women Health Officers.
BACTERIOLOGICAL WORK.
The Council have an arrangement with the Lister Institute of Preventive Medicine,
Chelsea Gardens, S.W.I, for the bacteriological examination, at the expense of the Council, of
specimens from Kensington cases sent to them through medical practitioners in regard to
diphtheria, tuberculosis, typhoid fever, syphilis and other diseases. The examinations in 1922.
were as follows:—
Disease suspected. No. of examinations. No. of positive results.
Diphtheria 579 89
Tuberculosis 121 31
Typhoid Fever 13 —
Goncrrhœa 2 —
Dysentery 1 —
Food Poisoning 1 —
In addition to these examinations at the Lister Institute, 616 specimens of sputum were
examined at the Tuberculosis Dispensaries.
Facilities for the examination of cerebro-spinal fluid in suspected cases of cerebro-spinal fever,
etc., are available to the Council's Public Health Department through the London County
Council's Laboratory and for the examination of suspected foodstuffs and of blood in suspected
malaria cases through the Ministry of Health.
PUBLIC BATHS AND WASH-HOUSES.
The subjoined particulars set forth the use made of the Public Baths and Wash-houses during
1922 and in the three preceding years by washers and bathers:—
Year. Washers. Bathers.
1919 82,002 259,200
1920 88,207 319,991
1921 103,546 292,464
1922 100,480 245,374
MORTUARY AND CHAPEL OF REST.
During the year 93 bodies were deposited in the Public Mortuary under the following
circumstances:—
At the request of relatives or friends of the deceased 49
At the request of undertakers 19
By the Police 25
93