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In order to fully understand the Council's position, as regards the
cleansing of verminous persons, it may be as well to give a short resume
of the Acts of Parliament referring to the matter.
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 persons to have the
use free of charge of the apparatus which the authority possesses for
cleansing the person and clothing from vermin.
The London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1904, empowers
the Local Authorities to cleanse, purify, or destroy articles which the
Medical Officer of Health 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 and 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.