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81
In my last annual report, reference was made to tlie powers contained in tlie General Powers
Act of 1907, for requiring the cleansing of school children and of the inmates of common lodging-houses.
A similar provision relating to children is contained in Section 122 of the Children Act of 1908, which
contains the following additional sub-section.
''Where after the person or clothing of a child has been cleansed by a local education authority
"under this section, the parent or guardian of, or other person liable to maintain, the child, allows
"him to get into such a condition that it is again necessary to proceed under this section, the parent,
"guardian, or other person shall, on summary conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding ten.
"shillings.''
Hence the duty of parents to keep their children free from a verminous condition is now
recognised by law, and it may be hoped that the steady enforcement of the provisions of the Act,
will finally effect the object in view. As yet, however, there is no penalty attaching to adults in
common lodging-houses, who after being cleansed at the public expense, allow themselves again to
become verminous, and indeed at the present time no adequate provision has been made in some
districts under the Cleansing of Persons Act of 1897, for poor persons to free themselves from this
condition, if they so desire. It may be anticipated, however, that recent legislation will have the
effect of emphasising the importance of this provision, and that eventually this want will be met in all
districts in London.
In this connection it may be mentioned that the new disinfecting and cleansing station in Stoke
Newington came into use during the year, and that it will meet the requirements of the inhabitants
of that borough, who previously had to make use of the station provided in the neighbouring borough
of Hackney.
The question whether any indirect effect will result from the freeing of people from verminous
condition can only be ascertained as the outcome of further knowledge and experience, but it is interesting
to note that Dr. Sykes points out that since the establishment of the cleansing stations in St.
Pancras and St. Marylebone "each of the boroughs shows a remarkable improvement in its
position in regard to the prevalence of scarlet fever and diphtheria."
In February, 1908, the Council sent to London sanitary authorities a letter asking for information
as to the facilities which could be given by them for the cleansing of school children, and of adults
living in common lodging-houses. This letter was as follows:—
London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1907.
"I am directed to draw attention to Sections 36 and 37 of the London County Council (General Powers) Act,
1907, with reference to the cleansing of verminous persons. It will be observed that Section 30 gives statutory power
to the county medical officer, or any other person authorised by him (a) to examine the person and clothing of any
child attending any school provided or maintained by the Council, to ascertain whether the person or clothing of such
child is infested with vermin, or is in a foul or filthy condition; (b) to require the parent or other person responsible
for such child to effect the cleansing of the person and clothing of the child within 24 hours of the notice to that effect,
and (c) on default of such parent or other responsible person, to remove the child from the school and to cause the
person and clothing of such child to be properly cleansed in suitable premises and with suitable appliances, and to
detain there such child until such cleansing has been effected ; and that Section 37 enables the medical officer or any
other person authorised by him (a) to enter any lodging-house and examine the person and clothing of any person whom
he has reason to suspect of being infested with vermin or in a foul or dirty condition; (b) to require such person to
submit his person and clothing to be cleansed at specific suitable premises, within,24 hours of notice of such requirement,
and (c) on default of such person, to remove him to suitable premises for the purpose of effecting the cleansing
and to detain him there until it'has been effected. The Council believes that the Metropolitan Borough Council
will agree that it is absolutely necessary that any arrangements made for carrying the Act into effect shall provide for
dealing separately, not only with men and women, but also with boys and girls. The Council recognises that children
in most cases belong to an entirely different class from that to which the adult person requiring cleansing belongs, and
separate days or hours should be appointed for their reception, or particular rooms allocated to them, in order to avoid
coming into contact with obviously undesirable adults. These are the more important points arising in connection
with the new powers conferred upon the Council. Before making any definite arrangements to put the Act into force,
it is necessary that the Council should obtain the fullest possible information as to the extent of the provision
already existing; the method of disinfection of verminous clothing and of dealing with a verminous condition of
the hair; the arrangements in regard to the supervision by the cleansing staff ; and the facilities which the metropolitan
borough council would be prepared to afford the Council in the matter. I am therefore to say, that the Council will bo
obliged if the Metropolitan Borough Council will, at the earliest possible moment, favour the Council with information
on the points just referred to, and will indicate also what facilities can be afforded to the Council in its administration
of the sections of the Act in question."
In the reports of the medical officers of health of the following districts, the subject is thus
discussed.
The medical officer of health of Fulham writes:—
''The Borough Council of Fulham were advised by the medical officer of health that with respect to verminous
persons from common lodging-houses, having regard to the fact that there is only one common lodging-house in Fulham,
sufficient accommodation existed at the disinfecting station to deal with the few cases likely to arise, there being
a bath there and a dressing-room, together with appliances for freeing the clothes from vermin. With regard to
children, for whom separate arrangements must be made, the medical officer of health recommended that the necessary
provision should be made at the shelter adjoining the disinfecting station, where the alterations and additions necessary
for the work could be made at a cost of about £15, and that the services of a woman to bathe the children should be
engaged, to be paid either by borough council or London County Council. The borough council, however, decided
to inform the County Council that they were willing to co-operate with them by cleansing verminous clothing and
enforcing the provisions of Sections 19, 20, 21 and 24 of the London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1904,
relating to verminous rooms, but that in their opinion the cleansing of verminous children should be undertaken by
the parents of such children."