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were small. Of butter 107 samples were taken, 103 being genuine and
4 adulterated. No proceedings were taken, as two samples were not
taken under the Acts, and the adulterations (excess of water) in the other
two were slight. All other samples of food taken were found to be genuine
with the exception of one sample of coffee and one of mustard, which were
not taken under the Acts.
Work of the Public Health Department.
During the year 1917, 703 separate premises were reported on by the
staff, 230 of this number being with reference to cases of notifiable
infectious disease, and 163 in the course of house-to-house inspections
made in certain of the poorer streets of the Borough. Legal proceedings
were taken in one case to enforce compliance with notices under the
Public Health (London) Act, the owner being fined 20s. with 21s. costs,
and an order made for the execution of the work.
During the year 261 inspections were made of factories, workshops
and laundries.
Verminous School children.—In 1917, 62 children attending elementary
schools in the Borough were reported as being found by the school nurses
to be in a verminous condition, as regards their heads, their bodies, or
both heads and bodies. The corresponding number in 1916 was 72, in
1915, 65, and in 1914, 266. All the homes of the verminous children
reported were visited by the Woman Sanitary Inspector; altogether
50 visits were paid in connection with this work, several cases occurring
in one family.
Scabies.—The number of cases of school children reported as being
affected with scabies in 1917 was 66, and 103 visits were paid to the homes
in connection with these cases. Eight cases attended at the Shelter in
Lots-road for courses of disinfectant baths, and 87 such baths were given.
Disinfection.—During the year 430 premises were disinfected after
cases of infectious or other disease, and an additional 185 rooms were
disinfected for bugs and other vermin. At the disinfecting station, 993
separate articles of bedding and clothing were disinfected, and 77 articles
were destroyed in the Incinerator.
Staff.—During the year the work of the Department was carried on
by the 2 male sanitary inspectors, 1 woman sanitary inspector, who is also
part time Tuberculosis Visitor and Health Visitor, one woman Health
Visitor, 2 disinfectors (one of whom acts as office assistant), and the part
time services of the mortuary-keeper as disinfector.