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38
St. Marylebone.—Four Baths (2 for females and 2 for males) were provided in
1898 at a cost of .£364, and for a small disinfector connected therewith, £126 10s. was
paid.

The cost of the annual upkeep, including attendants' wages, etc., and laundry
work, is about £280.
St. Pancras. —This Borough provided four baths (2 for males and 2 for females) in
1904. Part of an existing building was adapted for the purpose at a cost of about £80.

The cost of the upkeep has not yet been worked out, but at present £1 per week is
paid to a female attendant for the women and children, and in addition, cost of water,
gas for geysers, soap, brushes, towels, etc., and a small part of wage of the attendant
at the steam disinfecting apparatus will have to be recovered.
Westminster.—When the Act came into force the late Strand Board resolved that
the disinfecting chamber which is provided with baths should be utilised as far as
possible without interference with the ordinary disinfecting work. Since the
incorporation of the City the same practice has been followed, but as the building has
been pulled down for a new street, they are considering as to the provision of new
premises. They find the Guardians deal with a number of cases.
Woolwich.—An estimate has been made for carrying out the Cleansing of Persons
Act for £150 for the ensuing financial year, and plans are under consideration. It is
proposed to start in the first instance with one bath, and enlarge later to two, one
for each sex. The establishment will adjoin the disinfecting station.
Judging from the St. Marylebone figures it would seem as if the number of
bathers increased as the baths became more known.
At present there is no accommodation for carrying out the Act in Bermondsey
except the part connected with disinfecting the clothes. The existing bathroom
accommodation in the baths and wash-houses and the shelter is unsuitable for the
purpose, since this Act is intended to benefit the verminous and very dirtiest of the
population, and to put these baths to such a use, especially if the numbers should be
anything like those in St. Marylebone and St. Pancras, would destroy their reputation
as regards their present use.
It would therefore seem necessary to erect one or two baths, with waiting rooms,
to be used for this purpose alone.
The most suitable place I can suggest is the building known as the pump-house
situated in the Spa Road entrance to the Depot, along the side of the Baths and
Wash-houses. It is at present occupied by a disused pump, and seems to be mainly
used for lumber. It is 6 ft. wide and 44 ft. long.
The Surveyor states there would be ample accommodation for two baths with
waiting rooms adjoining each, and that the cost of adapting the building for this
purpose would not exceed £75.
The water, etc., would be readily obtained from the present Baths, and a suitable
entrance could be made at each end, one for males and one for females.
This report came before the Council on May 16th, when it was decided not to take any
action in the matter.
The following report was made on February 13th, 1906: —
In accordance with the instructions of the Public Health Committee I beg to submit
the report of the Surveyor accompanied by plans. Facts were brought forward in a
previous report to show that those Boroughs which had adopted the Cleansing of
Persons Act, and had taken means to make its advantages known to those members
of the community who might require the same, had found the establishment of them a
success.
The plans and estimate submitted by the Surveyor are of the very simplest kind,
and I would suggest that, as the adoption would be in the nature of an experiment,
the system of upkeep should also be of the simplest nature. For the male bath,
one of the hands employed at the Disinfector would be available, and for the female