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44
CLEANSING STATION
In November, 1913, the Council took over for use as a station for the cleansing of verminous
persons the Casual War-ids in Mary Place at an annual rent of £80. For more than three years the
Metropolitan Asylums Board have had no occasion to accommodate casuals in the wards, and it is
not likely that the wards will again be required for this purpose. In the receiving rooms six baths
are provided, three on the ground floor and three on the first floor. The Council have installed in
the wards adjoining the bath room on the ground floor a machine for disinfection by steam at a
temperature of 212 degrees F. under atmospheric pressure. The cost of the machine was £80,
and the cylindrical disinfecting chamber is 5 ft. in length with a diameter of 2 feet. The station
has been staffed by the appointment of a married couple who reside on the premises. The husband
receives 20s. a week as superintendent of the station, and is responsible for the working of the
disinfector and the bathing of adult males. The wife receives 15s. a week and is required to bathe
females and children. The superintendent was called up for Naval Service at the outbreak of the
war, and a temporary man has been appointed in his place.
Under a contract with the Education Authority the Borough Council have agreed to receive
verminous children sent to the station by the school nurses from the elementary schools. For the
use of the station and its equipment the Borough Council receive payment at the rate of 2s. for
each child cleansed. Technically in accordance with the provisions of the Childrens' Act, 1908,
children sent from the elementary schools are cleansed by the school nurse in the employ of the
London County Council, who attends at the station for the purpose, and is responsible under her
employers for the effective use of the apparatus provided. In practice the actual work of bathing
and disinfecting garments is carried out by the Borough Council's servants under the supervision
of the school nurse. For adults and children not sent from the elementary schools the
superintendent and his wife are responsible, and for the cleansing of such cases no charge is
made. The following Table shows the work carried out at the station for the year 1915:—
Children cleansed 502
Adults cleansed 390
Baths given 1,641
Verminous Rooms. —137 verminous rooms were cleansed during the year in response to
notices served under the powers conferred by the London County Council (General Powers) Act,
1904, 148 beds were disinfected, 6 verminous beds were destroyed, and 62 dirty beds were cleansed.
Rag Flock Act, 1911.—Four samples of rag flock were taken analysed and reported on
during the year. They contained 12, 10, 8 and 7 parts of chlorine per 100,000, the limit set by
the Regulations being 30 parts.

MORTUARY AND CHAPEL OF REST
During the year 249 bodies were deposited at the Mortuary under the following circumstances:—
1. At the request of the relatives of the deceased 32
2. At the request of undertakers, mainly at the instance of the relieving
officers 15
3. At the request of the coroner (inquest cases): —
Cases of sudden death 109
Cases of violent death 77
186
4. Brought in by the Police—Persons found dead 9
Accident cases 7
16
5. On account of death due to infectious disease 0
Total number of bodies received 249