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63
Three hundred and eighty-nine person, including laundry
workers, milk vendors, dressmakers, etc., 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 has been largely
availed of during the year 1909 by persons requiring the facilities
therein provided by the Council, and 1,694 persons who were
infected with vermin attended the Station, and were cleansed and
had their clothing disinfected at the disinfecting station adjoining.
Of the total number who were cleansed 1,332 were men, 41
women, and 321 children, the latter coming mainly from the public
elementary schools. In connection with the cleansing of these
1,694 persons, 16,380 articles of clothing, weighing over 6 tons,
were removed for disinfection to the Disinfecting Station.
In connection with the cleansing of verminous school children,
the London County Council are in negotiation with the Borough
Council for the use of their Cleansing Station for the purpose of
carrying out the duty which devolves upon them of cleansing
these verminous school children, under the London County Council
(General Powers) Act, 1908. Under the provisions of the
Children Act, the County Council are empowered to make use of
the apparatus, etc., of the Local Sanitary Authority on terms to
be agreed upon, and have approached the Borough Council on the
subject, but the negotiations are still pending.
Much good work has been done at the Personal Cleansing
Station during the year, and the popularity of the Station continues
to grow. During 1909 there was an increase of nearly
400 adults cleansed as compared with 1908. As pointed out in
previous annual reports, the accommodation provided for the purpose
is inadequate to meet the demand, and in other respects the
present arrangements are unsuitable for the work.
The Midwives Act, 1902.
The only duty cast upon the Borough Council in connection
with the above-mentioned Act is the important one of disinfection.
With this exception the Act in London is administered by the
London County Council as the Local Supervising Authority. Rule
V. of the rules framed by the Central Midwives Board states:—
"Whenever a midwife has been in attendance upon a
patient suffering from puerperal fever, or from any other illness