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118
In order to fully understand the position, it maybe as well
to give a short resume of the Acts of Parliament referring to
the cleansing of verminous persons, and of the correspondence
with the London County Council.
The Cleansing of Persons Act, 1897, empowered Local
Authorities to expend any reasonable sum on buildings,
appliances and attendants for the purpose of the proper cleansing
of persons infested with vermin. The Local Authority had
the power to permit such person to have the use free of charge
of the apparatus which the authority possesses, for cleansing
the person and his clothing from vermin.
The London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1904,
empowered the Local Authorities to cleanse, purify, or destroy
articles which the Medical Officer of Heath certifies are filthy,
dangerous or unwholesome. On the certificate of the Medical
Officer of Health that any house or part of a house is infested
with vermin, the owners may be compelled to strip, cleanse
rooms, houses, or part of such houses that are so infested.
Section 21 of this Act applies Section 59 of the Public Health
(London) Act, 1891, compelling sanitary authorities to provide
means for cleansing, purifying and destroying filthy, dangerous
or unwholesome articles.
Under the London County Council (General Powers) Act,
1907, the following powers have been conferred on the County
Council:—
1. The Medical Officer or his representative may, in any
school within the County, provided or maintained by
the Council as the Education Authority, examine the
person and clothing of any child attending such school,
and if on examination, he is of opinion that the person
or clothing is infested with vermin, or is in a foul
or dirty condition, the Medical Officer may give notice
in writing to the parent or guardian requiring him to
cleanse properly the person and clothing of such child
within 24 hours after the receipt of such notice.