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OUTINGS:
As in 1954, the afternoon coach outings for the homebound old
folk were arranged. Four coach parties were taken for a ride around
the countryside and tea was provided en route. Members of the
Council for the Welfare of Old People were in charge of the parties
and the District Nursing Association arranged for a nurse to accompany
each party.
WORKROOMS FOR THE ELDERLY:
The Council have had under consideration the provision of
workrooms for the elderly. The object is to provide the elderly with
employment within the limits of their capacity, to help them preserve
health of body and mind, to find comfort in the company of their
fellow workers and the relief of loneliness and, at the same time,
receive some remuneration. It is envisaged that the Department will
operate the scheme on behalf of the Council for the Welfare of Old
People and that a start will be made early in 1956.
INVESTIGATION OF ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION
The Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, through
the Metropolitan Boroughs Standing Joint Committee, requested the
Council to set up stations for the measurement of smoke and sulphur
dioxide by the volumetric method and to provide deposit gauges for
the measurement of deposited matter. Local Authorities, Government
Departments, Industrial Organisations and others have agreed
to co-operate in studying the polution of the atmosphere and its
prevention, and the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research
have undertaken the work of co-ordinating the observations, the
object of the investigation being to obtain exact information about the
nature and extent of atmospheric pollution. The success of the
investigation depends on the proper use of standard methods and
instruments which have been developed for the purpose of making
observations of atmospheric pollution and only under these conditions,
when the results obtained are strictly comparable, can sound conclusions
be drawn. Ash and grit can be measured by collecting
samples of deposited matter. Smoke and sulphur dioxide can be
measured by pumping air through apparatus designed to withdraw
and measure specific kinds of suspended impurity.
Two deposit gauges, one on the roof of the Clinic, Grange Road,
and one on the roof of Brunei Road flats, were set up on Ist April,
1955, to measure deposited matter. The gauge is exposed for periods
of one month and all solid and liquid material, including rain, which
falls within the 12 in. diameter circle of the glass collecting bowl
passes down the connecting pipe of rubber and stainless steel into a
glass bottle. On the first day of the following calendar month the
bowl is cleaned with the collected rainwater which is allowed to run
into the bottle. The bottle is replaced by a clean bottle and the
deposit gauge is ready for another month's exposure. Both deposit
gauge bottles are handed to the Public Analyst who carries out an
analysis of the deposited matter.