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Shelter House.—The Shelter House was occupied by six persons
during the disinfection of their homes after infectious diseases. Baths were
given to 12 verminous persons ; and 4 to persons who had been in contact with an
infectious disease were also afforded bathing facilities, and their clothing was
disinfected. Three midwives also attended for the purpose of disinfection after
attendance on cases of Puerperal Fever.
Verminous School Children.—During the year 4,838 baths were
given to children from the London County Council Schools, who attended the
Disinfecting Station, and were cleansed by the nurse whom the Borough
Council appointed for the work, while their clothing was undergoing disinfection.
The daily attendance ranged from 3 to 43.
The agreement entered into between the London County Council and
the Borough Council, for the cleansing of verminous children, is a payment
of Is. for each bath ; upon the understanding that the minimum amount to be
paid to the Borough Council in respect of such cleansing shall be £100 per
annum.
The amount paid during the year by the London County Council for the
baths given to the children was j£241 18s. Od.
No legal proceedings were instituted by the London County Council under
Section 122 of the Children Act, 1908, during the year.
In the early part of the year the attention of the Public Health Committee
was drawn to the unsuitability and the insufficient number of the baths at the
Shelter House for the bathing of the London County Council school children,
verminous persons, and all persons demanding baths (tramps, and the like),
and also of midwives who had been attending puerperal fever cases, but the
consideration was deferred until after the November elections.
On the formation of the new Public Health Committee the matter was
brought before them, and a letter from the Ministry of Health, dated 16th
July, 1919, was read to them, and the following report was presented by the
Medical Officer of Health.
To the Chairman and Members of the Public Health Committee.
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Baths at Disinfecting Station.
In order that this Committee should be aware of the events which preceded
their visit to the Disinfecting Station on Saturday afternoon last, I think it
would be well if the previous history of the baths were referred to, and I would
therefore inform the Committee that on one or two occasions previous to March
17th of this year the question of erecting separate baths for the cleansing of
verminous persons, midwives and school children was discussed. Priortothisdate
however,the then Local Government Board had issued a Memorandum respecting